Luc Tardif, the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, is optimistic about the upcoming Olympics with NHL players participating. Despite some delays in construction at the main arena, Tardif believes the tournament will be excellent. He mentioned that while certain areas of the rink may not be fully completed on time, the playing surface, practice facilities, and dressing rooms will be ready for the men’s event starting on February 11 at the Milan Cortina Games.
The women’s tournament will kick off even earlier on February 5. Tardif noted that the arena, named Hockey 1, will have a capacity of 11,800 seats, which is slightly different from his initial expectations. The last time the NHL players took part in the Olympics was in 2014.
In preparation for the event, Tardif will be heading to Italy with representatives from the NHL and NHL Players’ Association for a test event at the venue. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly previously stated that if there are any safety issues with the ice, the league will not send its players to the Olympics.