Ice rink for 2026 Olympic hockey tournament is creating major concerns

The men's ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics will feature NHL players for the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, and that is creating a lot of excitement for the tournament. What is not creating excitement is the state of the arena that is set to host those games at the Milan Cortina Olympics. 

There are problems. Multiple problems.

Ice rink for 2026 Olympic hockey tournament is creating issues

The most important problem so far is the simple the fact the PalaItalia Santa Giulia, a 16,000-seat venue which will host 33 games, including both the men's and women's gold medal games is not yet completed just two months away from the opening ceremonies. The NHL has been concerned about the lack of progress as far back as 2023, and according to The Athletic this week the "organizers needed a 'big bomb,' not just a fire, lit under them with the clock ticking loudly."

There is no Plan B for the hockey tournaments if the arena is not ready by the time the games arrive. 

The second problem, and one that has just been found this week, is that the rink is being built smaller than the NHL specifications. 

The rink dimensions are being constructed as 196.85-foot by 85.3-foot, which is three feet shorter than a typical NHL rink and only a small margin wider. 

In the past the NHL has played Olympic tournaments on international sized rinks, which are in fact shorter than NHL rinks, but as much as five-feet wider. This rink will have the shorter length, without the added width. 

That might not seem like a big deal, but it is actually a significant deal when it comes to players having more room to operate and skate and play their games. It could lead to a tighter-checking, more physical game that could also play a role in how the teams construct their rosters for the tournament.

Team USA has already talked about needing to have players that can check, especially given the physicality of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament a year ago that served as a tune-up for this year's Olympics. 

The appeal of having NHL players in the Olympics is that it is a best-on-best tournament made up of what are basically All-Star teams. It is supposed to be the best talent shining brightest in a display of skill that puts the game in a bright spotlight. Putting the tournament on a smaller rink that could lead to a more physical, uglier game may not be the best outcome for the tournament in terms of creating an exciting product.