Team Canada points to growing red flags inside Milan’s Olympic arena

Let’s call it cautious optimism. Or maybe just an acknowledgment of the highs and lows of Milan’s main Olympic hockey arena.

Last week, Chris Johnston covered what was the first game test on the ice and reported ”The ice surface appeared soft and snowy in its debut, and there was a delay in the first period after a big hole developed in front of one of the goals.”

He also mentioned how a score board upgrade may be more than necessary:

“A tiny scoreboard that would look out of place in a Canadian junior rink hung over center ice. Organizers say it will be replaced by one that is twice as big before the start of the Olympics.”

On Wednesday, another update on the arena construction came from Team Canada head coach Pete DeBoer. Last week prior to Johnston’s report, a preview of the locker rooms was released and didn’t exactly inspire confidence. At this stage, they’re essentially empty rooms, no proper stalls, no functional wash areas, nothing resembling a finished NHL-caliber space.

DeBoer revealed that the Olympic ice at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena will be suitable, but amenities such as locker rooms and concessions will not be fully ready.

Construction on the arena began back in 2023, despite Milan winning the Olympic bid in 2019. The delays have already forced test events, including a U-20 world championship, to be relocated to a secondary venue. Planned pre-Olympic events here were quietly scrapped.

The 2026 Games mark the NHL’s long-awaited return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

Perhaps they forgot to include a schedule to make sure players would be comfortable in decent dressing rooms…