The Winter Olympics will see the return of NHL players to the hockey competition, being held on slightly smaller ice than the NHL standard. The rinks in Milan, where the games will be played, measure 196.85 feet in length by 85.3 feet in width, making them a bit wider and over three feet shorter than the NHL’s 200 by 85 feet dimensions.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has approved these rink sizes, as they align with the organization’s standards and were previously used for games involving the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators in Stockholm. The decision to adopt the NHL dimensions at the Olympics started in 2018 and has continued into the 2022 Games. This will be the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics that NHL players will participate in the Winter Games.
Despite the slight deviation from NHL rink sizes, the IIHF has assured that the differences will not impact the safety or quality of gameplay. The ice dimensions at the Milan venues are consistent with IIHF regulations and were also used during the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
In previous Olympic editions, hockey has been played on various ice sizes, with the most recent NHL-sized ice in Vancouver in 2010 due to arena constraints. Teams and officials are aware of the ice specifications, with Canada’s management and coaching staff acknowledging the variations and adjusting their strategies accordingly.
Construction of the main Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, the primary venue for the hockey tournament, is nearing completion with no backup plan in place. Test events have been rescheduled due to delays, but organizers are optimistic that all necessary preparations will be finalized in time for the competitions.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has raised concerns about logistical issues, but both the IIHF and the IOC have reassured that the tournament will proceed as planned. The men’s hockey competition is scheduled from February 11 to 22, followed by the women’s tournament from February 5 to 19.