NHL, Union ‘Pleased’ With Olympic Arena Progress

There’s still a great deal of work to do at the Olympic hockey venue in Milan, with just three weeks to go before competition begins, but confidence is rising after a weekend of test events.

Three days of initial testing of the ice at Santagiulia Arena in Milan, the hockey venue for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, began in rough fashion on Friday as an initial game featured a large hole in the ice that formed in front of one of the goals. Six subsequent games held over the weekend, however, went more smoothly, and the NHL and NHL Players’ Association said late Monday that they remain hopeful that the final preparations will be made in time.

“We were pleased that this weekend’s event was a good trial run and provided important insight into the current status of the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena,” the league and union said in a joint statement. 

“While challenges are inherent with new ice and a still-under-construction venue, we expect that the work necessary to address all remaining issues will continue around the clock. The NHL and NHLPA will continue to monitor the situation, standing ready to consult and advise on the work being done to ensure that the local organizing committee, the IOC, and the IIHF deliver a tournament and playing conditions befitting the world’s best players,” the entities said.

Those comments followed those of the International Olympic Committee, which praised the progress of local organizers and construction crews.

“What I see personally is an extraordinary seating bowl, and this venue … looks fantastic,” said IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi. “The last time I came was before Christmas, and this is radically different. So, so much progress.”

The condition of the arena and its delayed construction has been an ongoing concern for months, but more recently, other organizations such as Hockey Canada have also remained hopeful that the arena situation would be resolved. While the ice itself is now performing better there are still many issues elsewhere in the building that need to be addressed, including core elements such as dressing rooms, a practice rink, the main scoreboard, and concessions facilities. 

Arena capacity for hockey will come in at 11,800, less than the 14,000 figure originally planned, as some seating sections were not completed.

NHL players are participating in the Olympics for the first time in 12 years, and their involvement has been a major story, even before the potential safety issues at the arena began to rise. Because of that, the league has had several of its personnel on-site in Milan to aid with the final development, along with Don Moffatt, who oversees ice making for the Avalanche at Denver’s Ball Arena. 

The women’s ice hockey competition is set for Feb. 5–19, while the men’s tournament will run Feb. 11–22.

Draft Matters

The NHL, meanwhile, said late Monday that the 2026 draft in June will be held in Buffalo at the Sabres’ KeyBank Center. 

The decision arrived as the franchise has been revitalized in recent weeks, winning 13 of 14 games entering Monday’s contest against the Panthers amid the arrival of new GM Jarmo Kekäläinen.

“This is a place where hockey really matters … hockey at all levels of the game,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said of Buffalo.