The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are facing potential disruption as the NHL has cautioned organizers that player participation is contingent on the timely completion of the new Olympic ice hockey arena [[2]]. A delay in construction already forced the postponement of a key test event, the Division I World Junior Championship, raising concerns about readiness for the Games. Beyond completion, the league has also expressed concerns over the planned ice surface, which is reportedly smaller than standard NHL rinks [[1]], potentially impacting player safety and performance.
MILAN – The NHL has warned organizers of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan that the league may prevent its players from participating if the construction of the new arena is not completed on time.
The warning from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly comes after delays in the arena’s construction led to the postponement of the Division I World Junior Championship, which was intended as a test event. Daly outlined the potential scenario in an interview with Daily Faceoff, responding to a question about the likelihood of NHL players sitting out the Olympic tournament.
“It depends on the percentage chance that the arena is not completed. If they don’t finish any arena for hockey, then no NHL players will go to the Olympics,” Daly stated.
Even if the Santa Giulia Arena is finished on schedule, another potential issue has emerged regarding the size of the ice surface. Originally planned to match NHL rink dimensions, the ice is now likely to be one meter smaller.
NHL players last competed at the Winter Olympics in 2014. The 2018 and 2022 Olympic hockey tournaments took place without them, leaving a noticeable void in international competition. The 2026 Games represent a chance to bring back some of the sport’s biggest stars. Organizers, however, remain confident the arena will be ready in time, with a test event scheduled for early January.
“We have no Plan B. We must therefore be able to ensure the competition is organized flawlessly. Every day our team is working, the companies involved have significantly accelerated the work. We monitor the situation daily. We are healthily optimistic that we will manage it,” Andrea Francisi, Chief Operating Officer of the 2026 Olympics, told the Associated Press.
- Autor: © Zoznam/
- Zdroj: TASR
