It appears there is a very real possibility that the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be hosted in Milan-Cortina, could go ahead without a star attraction, namely ice hockey stars from the NHL.
Maklin Celebrini (71) fires a shot over the shoulder of goalie Jeremy Swayman to score a power play goal during second period action – Photo by Jack Lima
For some months now, there have been ongoing concerns about the standard of the venue that is due to host the ice hockey matches at next year’s showpiece games, and there is no sign that the Santagiulia Arena is ready to take on the responsibility for what is usually considered one of the flagship events in the Winter Olympics.
Officials from the National Hockey League, the top event in the sport, have repeatedly made it clear that should they feel that facilities and playing surfaces are not up to scratch, then players who compete in the North American competition could be absent from action.
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Speaking on the conditions in Italy, deputy commissioner Bill Daly commented in forthright fashion.
“If the ice is unplayable, the ice is unplayable,”
“I don’t want to be flip about it. We probably will know that in advance of the official start of the Games. What you do at that point becomes a different issue.”
“Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we’re not going to play.”
“It’s as simple as that.”
On a more conciliatory note, Daly added.
“We have offered and they’re utilising our ice experts and technicians and outside providers,”
“We’re basically moving everybody there to try to help get this done in a way that’s acceptable for NHL athletes. And I’m cautiously optimistic it will be fruitful.”
The fact that we are just a matter of weeks away from the 6th of February opening of the games is something of a mountain for the Italians to overcome, and the nearer we get to the tournament, the less likely the star players will be in attendance, therefore making the event something of a non-starter.
Remember, stars from the NHL play for all major nations, so if NHL players decide not to risk taking part, then it would severely disrupt the overall quality of the tournament.
At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, it was the Finnish team that ran out winners, with the United States surprisingly defeated in the quarter-finals by Slovakia.
NHL players were missing from both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, and organizers will be desperate to avoid a three-peat.
Among the issues in question are the size of the projected rinks.
Peter DeBoer, Team Canada assistant coach, commented on this, stating.
“The ice surface, it looks like it’s going to be smaller than NHL rink standards, by probably three or four feet,”
Team Canada’s general manager Doug Armstrong added.
“Where they’re going to take the ice out of — is it going to be in the neutral zone? Is it going to be in all three zones equally? Is it going to go just in the offensive zone?”
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