| 2026 Mens Olympic Team [message #848876] |
Mon, 08 December 2025 19:21  |
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 Skookum Jim
Messages: 5592
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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So.. apparently the IOC has totally f'd up the hockey facilities in Italy..
Construction is late.. still not functional.
I criticize the NHL all the time.. but they have been after the IOC since the summer about the facilities.. and the IOC just brushed them off.. arrogant clowns that they are..
Rink is 4 ft. SHORTER than an NHL rink.. why?.. how?.. does nobody review a design drawing?
The TWO rink facilities they have built there.. are not intended to operate as rinks after the games.. so.. the ice plants they will install are TEMPORARY units .. not permenent.. so the integrity of the ice during the games is very much in question.. based on their incomptenec in building the rink the likelyhood the ice plants are undersized and will experience major operating bugs when running continuously at full capacity .. is very high.
There is real potential the NHL will refuse to play and the Olympic hockey will play somewhere else.. maybe even North America.. easier.. all the players are here alreaady. F the money grubbing IOC.
They have 8 years to build this thing and its a total F up.. should have been operating a year ago and hosting test events..
[Updated on: Mon, 08 December 2025 19:22]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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Mike
Messages: 1929
Registered: August 2005
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
1 Cup
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The 4' difference - whatever. Shrink the neutral zone, no biggie IMO.
But the ice plant stuff - that is certainly a concern. Right now they are tracking to complete 3 days before the women's tournament starts. Insane. So not even any kind of soft opening. Just flip the switch and go...almost zero chance there aren't issues.
Worst case I would think they could play the hockey in other Italian cities, no? I mean I assume Turin's Olympic rink is still functional, and that is less than 2 hours away. Or even in Switzerland. I'm sure there are rinks in the area - but what a clusterF.
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5592
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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| Mike wrote on Tue, 09 December 2025 06:07 |
The 4' difference - whatever. Shrink the neutral zone, no biggie IMO.
But the ice plant stuff - that is certainly a concern. Right now they are tracking to complete 3 days before the women's tournament starts. Insane. So not even any kind of soft opening. Just flip the switch and go...almost zero chance there aren't issues.
Worst case I would think they could play the hockey in other Italian cities, no? I mean I assume Turin's Olympic rink is still functional, and that is less than 2 hours away. Or even in Switzerland. I'm sure there are rinks in the area - but what a clusterF.
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Ideally if they have rinks available in Italy from the last Olympics there (but probaly "re-purposed" the facilities for something else.. like indoor soccer) .. You're right lots of rinks elsewhere in Europe.. closest is Switzerland (and the Swiss can be counted on for good ice!) but if you do that .. why not just stay in North America.. save the travel?
No matter where you go it'd be a challenge to find 2 decent rinks that are available to hold a 2 week world class tournament
IOC --> gong show
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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