The price of Team USA’s arena complaint revealed

Ahead of Wednesday’s quarterfinals, officials at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan made a noticeable change, swapping out the dark vinyl board wrapping that had been in place throughout the tournament.

The adjustment comes after feedback from teams and federations, though Team USA was the only squad to publicly voice frustration.

U.S. goaltender Jeremy Swayman drew attention to the issue following his team’s game against Denmark, when he allowed a tough goal and pointed to the dark board coverings as a contributing factor. Swayman said he lost sight of the puck because it was “the perfect height, right between the stands and the board level.”

While Olympic officials indicated the change followed input from multiple groups, including the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, the Americans’ comments certainly amplified the conversation and the change was not cheap.

According to Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News, the decision to lighten the boards at Santagiulia Arena came with a significant price tag: $40,000.

The timing of the swap, just before elimination play began, raised eyebrows around the hockey world. Some viewed it as a necessary competitive adjustment, while others questioned why the issue wasn’t addressed earlier in the tournament.

Let’s just say the cost of making that change has also become part of the story as the Olympic tournament intensifies.