'We're not going': NHL stars could skip the 2026 Olympics for the first time in over a decade, but something is going wrong

The NHL says its players will not go to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan if the main hockey venue is not safe and ready on time. This is big news because NHL stars have not played in the Olympics since 2014, and fans were excited to see them return.

The problem is the Santagiulia Arena near Milan. Construction has been delayed badly, and the venue is not finished yet. The arena will not even have ice installed until next year, which pushed back the important test event to January 9-11, 2026. 

Test events are crucial to make sure everything works before the Olympics start. According to The Guardian, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said it is “disappointing” that the building still is not done. He is clearly worried about whether everything will be ready in time.

The NHL will pull out if safety standards are not met

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly gave a strong warning about the 14,700-seat arena. He said it must be strong enough to handle three games in one day during the Olympics. Daly made it clear what happens if the arena fails safety checks. He said, “If the ice isn’t ready and it’s not safe, then we’re not going.” Player safety comes first, and the league will not risk top athletes on bad ice because of construction problems.

There were also concerns about the rink size. The Santagiulia Arena rink is smaller and wider than standard NHL rinks. But IOC sports director Pierre Ducrey said those issues have been “successfully resolved” with the NHL and players. At least that problem is fixed. In other sports news, Jake Paul announced his heavyweight opponent in a surprising move.

The International Olympic Committee is trying to stay positive. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said they need to “push through and continue until the very last moment.” She said they are keeping close watch on the hockey rink but are otherwise happy with preparations.

However, organizers admitted they have “no plan B” if the arena is not ready. This means the entire hockey tournament depends on meeting this tight deadline. The IOC said 70% of tickets for the 2026 Games are already sold, but none of that matters if the world’s best hockey players do not show up. Major sports events have faced venue uncertainty before, including FIFA’s World Cup location controversy involving political decisions.