Overview
- The first test game was briefly halted after a hole formed in the ice and was patched, which the event’s ice master Don Moffatt said can occur on newly skated surfaces.
- Moffatt later reported satisfaction with the ice after two days of games, describing the issue as minor and consistent with a normal commissioning process.
- Public and operational areas remain incomplete, with temporary dressing rooms and practice rink, no main scoreboard, exterior food trucks for concessions, and reduced sellable capacity of about 11,800.
- Organizers and the IOC expressed full confidence that NHL players will participate, while the league maintains it will hold players out if safety is compromised and plans a statement after its site visit.
- Games will use IIHF-standard ice that is slightly shorter than NHL dimensions, and officials say further refinements will follow this test event ahead of the women’s Feb. 5 and men’s Feb. 11 starts.