International Ice Hockey Federation issues surprising statement over Olympic rink fiasco

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is receiving “constant reassurances” from the IOC and IIHF that the ice rinks will be ready when athletes arrive. However, the main venue, Santagiulia Arena, is still under construction. The rink was supposed to be tested in December with a U-20 World Championship event, but those matches have been relocated to the Rho Fiera, which will now host secondary Olympic games.

Complicating matters, the rink dimensions reportedly fall short of NHL standards. Team Canada assistant Pete DeBoer revealed on Sportsnet 590 The Fan that the ice surface is likely three to four feet shorter than regulation size. “It looks like it’s going to be smaller than NHL rink standards by probably three or four feet,” DeBoer said. “I don’t understand how that happened.” He added that while the difference isn’t huge, it is still smaller, not larger, than expected.

Questions remain about whether the arena will be ready in time or deemed suitable. The NHL has reportedly considered moving games to the Palasport Olimpico in Turin, which hosted hockey during the 2006 Olympics, or to a nearby venue in Switzerland. There is also the possibility that the NHL could pull out of the Games entirely.

A source told Full Press Hockey: “These Olympics could blow up in the NHL’s face and be a disaster for the sport. If this isn’t successful, future participation will be seriously reconsidered.”