Key Takeaways
- The Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, is experiencing construction delays and issues with the ice, but Team USA’s general manager, Bill Guerin, is not worried about the situation.
- The arena’s first test event was stopped due to a hole in the ice, and there are reports of multiple large holes in the exterior of the building and issues with the practice rink.
- Despite the concerns, the prevailing attitude around the league is that the tournament will go ahead as planned, and the issues will be resolved.
- The game rink’s capacity is likely to be reduced from 14,000 to 11,800, and the dimensions of the ice are slightly shorter than the NHL standard.
Introduction to the Situation
The ongoing construction at Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, the main venue for next month’s men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Games, has raised concerns about the readiness of the facility. However, Team USA’s general manager, Bill Guerin, is not yet panicked about the situation. With still a month to go before the tournament, Guerin is confident that the issues will be resolved, and the tournament will go ahead as planned. In a recent interview, Guerin stated that he is not worried about the construction delays and issues with the ice, and that the team is focused on preparing for the tournament.
The Arena’s Construction Issues
The Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena has experienced a myriad of delays, and the construction is still ongoing. The first test event at the arena was stopped due to a hole in the ice, which was patched with a watering can. There are also reports of multiple large holes in the exterior of the building, and issues with the practice rink. The game rink’s capacity is likely to be reduced from 14,000 to 11,800, and the dimensions of the ice are slightly shorter than the NHL standard. Despite these concerns, the players who participated in the test event were optimistic about the situation, and the games that followed appeared to go off without a hitch.
The NHL’s Response to the Situation
The NHL is not thrilled about the situation, but the prevailing attitude around the league is that the tournament will go ahead as planned. Guerin stated that he is not being briefed about the test event, and that he is confident that the issues will be resolved. The Wild coach, John Hynes, who is also an assistant coach on Team USA, shared Guerin’s confidence, stating that the NHL and the IIHF will ensure that the facility is suitable for the tournament. Hynes also noted that the test event was a good opportunity to identify and fix the issues, and that he is convinced that the work will be done the right way.
The Ice Master’s Statement
Dan Moffatt, the ice master for both hockey arenas in Milan and for the Colorado Avalanche, released a statement to reporters about the hole that appeared during the game on Friday. Moffatt stated that the hole was "in line with the usual process" and that it is normal for new ice to respond with cracks and holes. Moffatt also noted that the ice has been good, and that only one hole occurred, which was quickly filled and repaired. The statement suggests that the issues with the ice are minor and can be resolved with proper maintenance and care.
The Players’ Perspective
The players who participated in the test event were optimistic about the situation, and they put a positive spin on the issues with the ice. Florian Wieser of SV Kaltern/Caldaro stated that the ice was "pretty OK" and that it was not bad. Wieser also noted that the Zamboni guy told him that the ice will be good when the NHL players arrive. Kris Pietroniro of SG Cortina Hafro also shared a positive view, stating that the ice was good and that the issues were minor. The players’ perspective suggests that the issues with the ice are not as severe as they seem, and that the facility can still host a successful tournament.
Conclusion and Outlook
In conclusion, while the construction delays and issues with the ice at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena are concerning, Team USA’s general manager, Bill Guerin, and the NHL are confident that the issues will be resolved, and the tournament will go ahead as planned. The players who participated in the test event were optimistic about the situation, and the games that followed appeared to go off without a hitch. With still a month to go before the tournament, it is likely that the issues will be resolved, and the facility will be ready to host a successful tournament. The NHL and the IIHF will work together to ensure that the facility is suitable for the tournament, and the players will be able to focus on competing at their best.