Concerns Arise Over Ice Size for 2026 Olympic Hockey
As Team Canada celebrates its recent successes in Olympic ice hockey, a new controversy looms over the upcoming 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Assistant coach Pete DeBoer voiced his concerns about the size of the ice rink designated for the event during a December 3 appearance on SportsNet’s Real Kyper & Bourne radio show.
“The ice surface, it looks like it’s going to be smaller than NHL rink standard by probably three or four feet,” DeBoer stated, expressing confusion over how this discrepancy occurred. “I don’t understand how that happened.” His remarks highlight a significant issue, especially as this will mark the first Winter Olympics since 2014 where NHL players are allowed to compete.
DeBoer, who previously coached the Dallas Stars, emphasized that while the difference may not seem vast, it is nonetheless critical. “I don’t believe it’s a huge difference. But I believe there is a difference, and it’s on the smaller, not the bigger side,” he added, underscoring the potential impact on gameplay.
Despite these concerns, some players remain unfazed. An unnamed NHL player slated for Olympic participation told ESPN that he does not foresee the smaller ice being an issue. “With the talent level there’s already going to be no time and space,” he remarked, suggesting that the quality of play will remain high regardless of rink dimensions.
DeBoer’s comments come amid reports of delays in the construction of the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which is set to host Olympic hockey matches. The arena, with a capacity of 16,000, is behind schedule, raising questions about its readiness for the games starting in February 2026.
Andrea Francisi, chief operations officer for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, recently stated that “there is no plan B” if the arena is not completed on time. However, he remains optimistic about meeting deadlines. “So necessarily we have to be able to organize the competition in an impeccable manner at Santagiulia,” he noted.
The arena is expected to host its first Olympic event—a women’s preliminary round match—on February 5, 2026, just one day before the Opening Ceremony. With test events already rescheduled and new trials set for January 9 to 11, time is of the essence for organizers.
These test events serve multiple purposes beyond assessing ice quality; they also evaluate concession stands, restrooms, and other facilities within a brand-new venue. “There are daily updates in the sense that our team is there working every day,” Francisi explained. “The companies involved with the building of the facility have sped up their work significantly.”
“We’re monitoring all that daily together with them; there’s great collaboration between us,” he continued. “We’re creating a coordinated plan between their work and our preparations and for the moment we’re healthily optimistic. But 100 percent we’ll do it.”
