NHL Commissioner Bettman Addresses Olympic Rink Construction Delays

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed concern about the construction delays for the hockey rink at the Milan-Cortina Olympics during a visit to the Winnipeg Jets' facility. Bettman stated that the slow construction of the main rink is 'disappointing,' noting that in all prior Olympics, whether permanent or temporary facilities were built, it has never been this late for completion.

He mentioned that the NHL is cautious due to the late timeline, with the main rink's completion date set for February 2. The women's tournament is set to start on February 5, followed by the men's hockey competition from February 11 to 22.

The league has previously raised concerns about the quality of the ice surface and is sending its own experts to ensure safety. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the dimensions of the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and secondary Rho facility are slightly wider and 3 feet shorter than agreed upon with the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Daly also noted that the NHL and NHL Players' Association expect standard NHL ice size at the 2030 Olympics in France.