IIHF and IOC officials express confidence in ice quality and venue readiness following key test event in Milan.
Milan | By Sayer Zaland, AIPS Member
Senior officials from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have reacted positively to the latest test event at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which will host both the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
IIHF President Luc Tardif said he was satisfied with the condition of the ice following the Milano Hockey Finals, staged from January 9 to 11, which featured a double Final Four deciding the Italian league and cup titles. “This was a conclusive test,” Tardif said. “The puck was sliding properly and not bouncing. We can return confident.”
IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubi echoed that assessment, noting the rapid progress made at the venue in recent weeks. Dubi said the ice quality met international standards throughout multiple games and stressed that ongoing construction work remains on schedule, with more than 1,000 workers active daily at the site.
The Milano Hockey Finals marked the first major operational test of the arena after earlier delays linked to construction timelines. Although a minor ice issue briefly interrupted one match, officials said it was resolved quickly and did not raise safety concerns.
The venue is set to stage Olympic ice hockey competition from February 5, 2026, beginning with the women’s preliminary round. Questions had previously been raised about readiness, including comments from NHL officials, but Tardif stated there is now no reason to doubt the participation of NHL players, emphasizing that player safety and ice quality standards apply equally to all competitors.
During the test event, spectator capacity was limited to around 4,000 seats to allow final construction work to continue ahead of the Games. Organizers say the arena remains on track to be fully completed before the opening of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.