First Olympic test event at Milan arena postponed due to 'giant hole in the ice' appearing during play

"The first test event at the arena to be used for ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics hit a very early snag on Friday. According to The Athletic's Chris Johnston, who is in attendance at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, the game had to be postponed after a "giant hole in the ice" appeared during play."

"The trouble at the rink occurs just days after IIHF President Luc Tardif admitted that parts of the arena might not be fully finished on time, but the playing surface, practice facilities, and locker rooms would be ready when the puck drops for the men's event on February 11. "We can be confident on that," Tardif said Monday. "You're not going to go to Milano for nothing.""

A pre-Olympic ice hockey test match at Milano Santagiulia Arena was postponed when a giant hole opened in the ice during play. Arena staff attempted to patch the hole with a watering can and paused the Coppa Italia semifinal between Kaltern Caldaro Rothoblaas and HCMV Varese Hockey. Parts of the arena may not be fully finished on time, though the playing surface, practice facilities, and locker rooms will be ready for the men's event on February 11. The main arena capacity was set at 11,800, down from 12,000, and the rink will be shorter than NHL regulation, raising safety and participation concerns.

Read at RMNB