While there were already significant concerns surround the Olympic hockey venue at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, over whether it would be safe and completed on time, new concerns have now arisen that the ice surface was incorrectly constructed to be smaller than NHL and PHWL regulations.
The concerns of the main ice hockey venue for the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina continue to mount, with a growing emphasis on potential safety issues for players.
What was once concerns about the venue being completed and checked for safety in time for the start of the women's hockey tournament on February 5, and men's hockey tournament on February 11 have grown. The next issue that's come to light, according to multiple reports, is that the ice surface at the yet-to-be-completed Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena will be smaller than NHL and PWHL regulation rinks.
In particular, reports have surfaced, including an initial report by The Athletic, stating the IIHF approved the ice surface to be 3.15 feet shorter than regulation arenas.
Typically when played overseas, NHL and PWHL players have had to adapt to a bigger ice surface. This time around, however, it will mean adapting to a smaller arena, which has also raised alarms for safety issues.
The shorter ice surface is the norm on Olympic size ice, but it's typically coupled with close to 15 feet in extra width. The surface being built at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is only 0.3 feet wider than regulation NHL and PWHL arenas.
Canada's Peter DeBoer confirmed the report to Sportsnet.
"Actually, the ice surface, it looks like it's going to be smaller than NHL rink standards, by probably three or four feet," DeBoer said on a radio show. "I don't understand how that happened."
Part of the issue being raised is that the agreement struck to bring NHL players back to the Olympics ensured that the venue would feature an NHL sized ice surface.
As Michael Russo and Chris Johnston wrote for The Athletic, "An ice surface with a shorter length but not substantially greater width will leave players with less room to maneuver. That could put players in dangerous situations..."
Conversely, according to a report from ESPN, they claim the NHL does not see the smaller surface as a safety concern.
Earlier this week, reports circulated discussing the timetable for completion of the venue, which has already cancelled events scheduled as tests for the ice and operating systems, and they made another move to cancel an event scheduled for January 9-11. The belief that the arena will not be complete only three weeks before puck drop is alarming for all involved.