The first test match at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan — set to host ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics — was overshadowed by a serious incident. The Italian Cup semi-final between Varese and Caldaro was temporarily suspended after damage was discovered in the ice surface.

During play, officials identified a small but potentially dangerous hole in the ice, forcing a stoppage of around five minutes. Organisers were required to take emergency action, including re-flooding the ice during the pause in order to make the surface playable again.

The incident occurred less than a month before the start of the Olympic Games and represents an unwelcome warning sign for organisers. The fixture had been viewed as a key readiness test for the new venue, but instead exposed technical issues during its first major outing.

The situation has not gone unnoticed beyond Italy. North American journalists are already present in Milan to assess conditions ahead of the tournament, with NHL stars set to compete at the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Any disruption at this stage is likely to heighten concerns over the arena’s preparedness.