Chris Jones provides an update from Italy ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics.
The Milano Santagiulia arena, which has faced challenges, hosted its inaugural game on Friday, putting aside months of concerns and criticisms, at least for a brief moment, to showcase some hockey action.
The highly anticipated “test event,” aimed at assuring the NHL of the arena’s readiness to host the first best-on-best men’s Olympic tournament since 2014, kicked off with a Coppa Italia semifinal. As the doors opened for the first time to spectators not wearing hard hats, workers were still busy clearing dust from the seats.
Except for the well-maintained ice by Canadian ice expert Don Moffatt, the arena appeared far from being a finished venue.
Only the lower section was accessible to spectators, with the upper areas of the arena still covered with black tarps and seats wrapped in plastic. The concourses bore the scent of recent construction work, and in some areas, the drywall mud was still moist to the touch.
Despite the ongoing presence of hundreds of workers inside the arena during the opening game, officials expressed unwavering confidence that the NHL and its players would be arriving in Milan.
Take a sneak peek inside the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena as it prepares for the upcoming test tournament 👀🏒 <a href=”https://t.co/DAEBMeJunx”>pic.com/DAEBMeJunx</a>
—CBCOlympics
“Absolutely,” affirmed Andrea Francisi, the chief games operations officer, at the rink. “The arena is set. Some final touches are required, but the sports aspect is ready.”
“I am highly confident they will be here, and it will be incredibly thrilling,” remarked Pierre Ducrey, the IOC’s sport director, gazing up at the vibrant arena lights. “We will witness NHL players here in February, and it will be remarkable.”
During the first period, a minor setback occurred when a hole emerged on the ice, necessitating the use of a large green watering can for repair.
The ultimate test will occur on Saturday, with a full morning of practice and three additional games scheduled. Despite Moffatt’s expertise — this being his fifth Olympics — concerns remain about the ice’s durability under more intense conditions and the heat of a packed arena.
It is notable that representatives from the NHL and NHLPA were unavailable for commentary on Friday, possibly due to the uncertainties. Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, is anticipated to deliver a statement following this weekend’s tournament.
Luc Tardif, the IIHF president, will address the matter on Sunday.