Winter Olympics ice hockey: NHL pleased with Milan test event

The NHL said it was pleased with a test event held at Milan's Santagiulia Arena and will continue to monitor the unfinished venue; prior construction delays and ice-quality concerns had raised scrutiny ahead of the Games.

Organisers held a weekend test event at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Seven games were played over three days as part of that trial. The NHL and the NHL Players' Association issued a joint statement saying they were pleased with the event but will continue to monitor the venue while work continues. Key facts: - Seven games were staged at Santagiulia Arena over three days as a trial run before the Winter Olympics. - The NHL and NHLPA said they were "pleased" with the weekend test but will continue to monitor the unfinished venue and stand ready to consult on remaining work. - Construction delays and earlier doubts about ice quality had prompted concerns about NHL player participation in the Games. Summary: The NHL described the weekend matches as a useful trial and said work to address remaining issues is expected to continue. The league and the players' association will keep monitoring the site and seek to consult with the local organising committee, the IOC, and the IIHF as needed. Undetermined at this time.