Will There Be Hockey Played at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Due to Ice Concerns?

• There have been concerns over the quality of the ice for hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
• The construction of the facilities has also been under the microscope.
• The NHL is “cautiously optimistic” that the event will move forward, but it’s not a good look for the International Olympic Committee.

The hockey tournaments at the Olympics have come under scrutiny because of concerns over the ice quality, size, and construction of the venues needed.

While the NHL is holding on to hope, it’s fair to wonder if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will have everything ready by February 2.

Ice Size is Fine Now, But Quality is Still a Concern

On December 8, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly stated that NHL players won’t be going to the Olympics if they deem the ice to be “unsafe”.

This would be massive news, as the NHL is allowing its players to participate in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. But there have been major worries. One was the ice size, which is about three feet shorter and slightly wider. The IOC contends that the difference is negligible, but it’s interesting as international hockey is usually played on larger surfaces than you find in the NHL.

Of more importance is the quality of the ice, which has drawn a lot of attention. The NHL has reportedly sent their specialists to help out with the issue, which they have done in previous Olympics. But there are supposed to be three games a day played on this ice. A test event is set to take place at the main rink in Milan on January 9-11. That doesn’t leave much time for the IOC to make other plans.

There is also a concern that Santagiulia Arena, where the test event will be, won’t be finished in time, or it will be rushed. The 2006 Olympics in Turin also had these problems.  

Can the IOC Get This Ready by February 2?

There are Olympic betting hockey lines for both the men’s and women’s hockey tournaments. But it’s really coming down to the wire in Italy, and Daly is adamant that player safety is first. He said:

"Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we're not going to play. It's as simple as that. Whatever flows from that, flows from that. I'm not really all that concerned about it."

The Athletic report also said that the infrastructure, such as roads, surrounding the arena wasn’t completed as of November. It also claims the NHL has sent more people to Italy to aid the project.

The women’s tournament starts on February 5, and the men’s tournament on February 11. It isn’t ideal that it’s cutting it this close. But the NHL won’t be afraid to yank its players, so the IOC has to do whatever it takes to make everything right, both on and off the ice.