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WWYDW: Will the NHL still go to the Olympics?
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Michael Menzies
Dec 3, 2025, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 3, 2025, 16:36 EST
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As we all get excited for best-on-best Olympic hockey, an under-the-radar bombshell dropped on hockey fans Tuesday.
The rink is going to be smaller by a whole three to four feet compared to NHL dimensions. Forget Olympic ice, going to be bigger — it’s going to be smaller!
According to The Athletic:
“The International Ice Hockey Federation approved a 60-meter by 26-meter sheet of ice (196.85-foot by 85.3-foot) in Milan, a source familiar with the decision tells The Athletic, which is more than three feet shorter and only a hair wider than the 200-foot by 85-foot (60.96-meter by 25.91-meter) dimensions required under NHL rules.”
The NHL and commissioner Gary Bettman have been following the progress (or lack thereof) of the Milan-Cortina facilities, and the reports indicate that there is no backup plan if the arenas aren’t built on time.
Could the NHL actually pull players from the Olympics, citing building and injury concerns with facilities that simply aren’t up to snuff?
NHL brass went in mid-November to get a first-hand look at the buildings, ahead of snapping a 12-year drought of NHL player participation in the Olympics.
“There seem to be some issues, including with the ice,” Bettman said at the time. “And while the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation are responsible and have said that we have nothing to be concerned about, we will send our own people to take a look ourselves, because the well-being of our players playing in this tournament is the most important thing.”
Bettman added that they are getting “constant reassurances” that the ice will be good enough, but Tuesday’s news of the dimensions being smaller brings a new safety concern to how construction is going.
Team Canada assistant coach Peter DeBoer said this on The Fan 590:
“Actually, the ice surface looks like it’s going to be smaller than NHL rink standards, by probably three or four feet,” DeBoer said. “I don’t understand how that happened.”
The NHLPA is also reportedly looking into the matter.
Should the NHL pull out? I friggin’ hope not.
We’ve waited a long time for a big me,aningful tournament that included best-on-best and national pride. But this news isn’t nothing, and the finicky NHL, which has not been able to reach a deal with the International Olympic Committee for a decade, may use this as a reason to destroy our hearts.
Let’s pray the powers that be figure it out.

WWYDW

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