Overview
- The Milano Hockey Finals concluded with IOC executive Christophe Dubi and IIHF president Luc Tardif saying the ice met standards, despite wider venue work still ongoing.
- A Varese–Caldaro game was paused for about five minutes due to a two‑centimetre depression near a goal, which an Ice Master consultant said was quickly repaired.
- Reporters observed active construction during games, with workers, cranes, exposed cables and restricted upper‑tier areas, alongside complaints about parking and signage as shuttles operated.
- Organizers say over a thousand workers are on site daily as the countdown to the first Olympic game continues, calling the Finals a deliberate stress test to surface issues.
- Local reports note the project’s cost rose from an estimated €170 million to roughly €370 million for a temporary 16,000‑seat venue, and IIHF leadership signaled no clear reason for the NHL to withhold players.