Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics: NHL Stars Return Amid Arena Concerns

One of the most thrilling aspects of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina will be the return of NHL players. It’s been quite a while—over ten years since the top hockey talents participated. The main issue that kept them away was the disagreement over whether the Olympic Games, which take place mid-season, were beneficial for the NHL.

This past weekend, it seemed like things might wrap up as the NHL and NHLPA tentatively agreed with the IOC. However, reports indicated that the hockey venues were facing significant challenges. With games set to kick off on February 5th, the primary arena didn’t have basic amenities like locker rooms or even benches finished. Even more concerning were the state of the playing surface, which had troubling pits and soft spots.

Officials downplayed the issue, saying it was a “small hole,” but still raised concerns about whether the playing surface would meet safety standards. We all want to see NHL talents hit the ice in Milan-Cortina, but not at the risk of injuring a top player due to inadequate preparation.

“New ice and stadiums under construction will not be without their challenges, but it is expected that the work necessary to address any remaining issues will continue around the clock,” the statement read. “The NHL and NHLPA will keep tabs on the situation and are prepared to advise local organizing committees, the IOC, and the IIHF to ensure we provide tournament conditions that suit the world’s best athletes.”

Yet, issues persist. The ice dimensions, which have been termed “strange,” are still a matter of concern. An agreement was made to adjust the Olympic ice to be more like NHL size, but significant discrepancies remain. Presently, while the width matches NHL standards, it falls over three feet short in length. Ryan Valentini, who has experience playing in both the OHL and ECHL, noted that it felt noticeably different.

“Obviously, we’re used to Olympic ice, but this is even smaller than NHL ice, so it’s a completely different game,” Valentini admitted. “It felt really weird. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s the construction or what.”

At this point, it’s unclear if the arena can support games at the usual NHL dimensions or if the changes were made to address structural concerns. Regardless, the NHL and NHLPA seem optimistic about proceeding as planned, but quite a bit of work lies ahead before February 5th.