Major update on the arena and the ice conditions in Milan for 2026 Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics open on Friday evening and the first men's hockey games at the brand new Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena are scheduled for next Wednesday.

There have been many publicized reports about the arena and and just how ill-prepared the arena's organizing and construction staff have been for the games. Of course, we know already that the rink size is not NHL nor IIHF regulation sized after Italian engineers simply rounded up measurements to the nearest meter.

There were also reports that locker/dressing rooms would not be ready in time for the Games.

All of this is to say that there have been major concerns that the entire arena situation in Milan is going to be an absolute shit show..

Well, today the NHL's ice master Don Moffatt, the ice master at the 2026 Olympic hockey tournament, told TSN that he never experienced anything like this.

“This one has been unbelievably challenging,” Moffatt told TSN. “The other Olympics I’ve had test events a year out, so I learned the systems. I learned the buildings. And then, when it comes time to put the ice in for the Olympics, I usually have it in at least three to four weeks ahead of the Olympics. I can get it skated on, broken in, and really finely tuned. This one was definitely a challenge.”

Moffat just put in ice last week.

“I waited until the last second, until most of the construction around the field of play here was completed,” Moffatt said. “I’ve kind of been, you know, an asshole the last week. I can count on one hand the number of people that have been on that ice surface so far. About three days ago, it was the owner of the actual building that I screamed at, and he very nicely got off the ice. A couple of people came out to take pictures and I’m like, ‘Not allowed. Sorry.’”

It sounds though like Moffat has worked his magic again, so you can excuse him for being an 'asshole' (his words).

“It’s dense,” he said. “It’s solid. Your skates don’t go into it. I’m kind of a bigger guy and I tried. I’ve skated my entire life. I’m obviously not nearly at the talent level that’s coming here to play, but I’m big enough that I should be able to cut the ice if I want to and I couldn’t. So, yeah, it’s in really good condition right now.”

“I think the players are going to love it,” Moffatt said.

The bottom line is that the arena is built and Moffat has gotten the job done. Barely.

Now, let's drop the puck.