The IIHF approved a sheet of ice measuring 60 meters by 26 meters (196.85 feet by 85.3 feet) in Milan, as The Athletic reported last week, which is more than three feet shorter and only a few inches wider than the 200-foot-by-85-foot (60.96-meter-by-25.91-meter) dimensions required under NHL rules.
News of that difference came as a surprise to officials with the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. They had signed off on an Olympic agreement last summer that called for NHL-sized ice to be used for the Feb. 11 to 22 tournament. Both the NHL and NHLPA indicated they would have to look into the issue last week.
In the IIHF statement released Monday, the sport’s governing body said everyone was on board with the specs that will be used at the Santagiulia Arena and Milan Rho Fiera exhibition center.
“All involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play,” read the statement. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best players for a best-on-best competition at the Games.”
The IIHF added that the same dimensions were used for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which did not feature NHL players. It also noted that the recent Global Series games played between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators at Avicii Arena in Stockholm featured the same size ice surface.
With concerns around the readiness of the Milan venues growing, the NHL recently dispatched staff to help oversee the project, according to league sources. Among the tasks they’re involved with is making sure the differences in the smaller surface are mitigated by accounting for them in the neutral zone.
Hockey Canada was aware of the smaller ice surface approved for use in Milan and advised players during its Olympic orientation camp in August about the issue.
However, multiple potential Olympians from other countries told The Athletic they only found out about it last week.
Canadian star Nathan MacKinnon said he thinks the smaller surface will be noticeable when players get out there in a game setting.
“If you have a foot less space, it can be a big difference,” MacKinnon said. “If you get a foot closer in the slot, I think that could be a big difference. But it’s the same for everybody.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
NHL, Olympics, Women's Hockey
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