Is it time to panic about the size of the Olympic ice rink?

"It's well known that NHL rinks are actually smaller than the international standard. That's part of the reason why European players sometimes have a learning curve when they first come over to play in North America, and why NHL hockey is viewed by some as being more physical than European hockey. Usually, IIHF rinks (including Olympic rinks) are 60 meters long and 30 meters wide, which translates to about 196.85 feet x 98.4 feet. That's significantly wider than NHL rinks, which are 200 feet x 85 feet."

"The announcement came as a surprise to some, including NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly who stated that if the players did not feel safe playing on the new rinks, then the NHL would withdraw its Olympic participation. Daly quickly added that as of now, they "did not believe it to be a big issue, health and safety issue or a competitive issue," so there's no need to fear the worst. The IIHF released a statement addressing this discrepancy, saying that "all involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play.""

Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic ice rinks will measure 60 meters by 26 meters (196.85 ft x 85.3 ft), making them roughly three feet narrower than standard NHL rinks. IIHF Olympic rinks are typically 60 meters by 30 meters (196.85 ft x 98.4 ft), which are significantly wider than NHL surfaces. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly warned the NHL could withdraw if players felt unsafe but said current opinion is that the difference is not a health, safety, or competitive issue. The IIHF and organizing bodies called the differences insignificant. Some NHL players expressed concerns that the smaller surface could alter Olympic gameplay.

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