June 24, 2019. That’s the date the IOC (International Olympic Committee) awarded Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo the honor of hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, narrowly edging out Stockholm’s bid.
February 12, 2025. That’s when Gary Bettman, after discussions with the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) and NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association), announced that NHL players would return to the Winter Olympics for the first time since Sochi 2014.
Both dates now live in infamy given what’s unfolding in Milan
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Peter DeBoer, during an appearance on Sportsnet’s Real Kyper and Bourne show, revealed he had visited the Milan rink and raised concerns: the ice surface is smaller than NHL standards by about three to four feet.