MN Wild President Weighs in on Olympic Hockey Rink Controversy
The Minnesota Wild won their sixth-straight game on Thursday night, this one a 5-2 victory in Columbus against the Metro Division bottom-dweller Blue Jackets. The Wild now sit at 21-9-5 with just three games remaining before a four-day holiday break.
It’s one of two upcoming halts in action that the National Hockey League will have between now and the start of the 2025-26 Playoffs. The next one will be much longer, a three week hiatus in February (5-25) that will allow players from around the league to compete in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.
Over the past couple of weeks, however, there has been a ton of drama and consternation happening around the Olympic hockey rink currently under construction in Italy.
It’s not going to be as big as it was supposed to be, after an early miscalculation. And some have even worried whether or not it will even be ready by early February, when the games begin.
Quick peek at the main arena in Milan. Obviously, a lot of work needs to get done. The NHL sounded positive earlier this week at BOG meetings the work will get done in time for the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/58UXkwmDFd
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 12, 2025
Minnesota Wild president Bill Guerin not worried about Olympic rink
Minnesota Wild president of hockey operations — and Team USA GM — Bill Guerin, made it clear this week that he is not in that group.
Guerin sat down with the Spittin Chiclets podcast recently, where former NHL player Joe Bissonnette asked him if he is losing sleep over the Milan rink controversy.
In his response, Guerin made it clear he is not concerned about the overseas rink, in the slightest. “It’s just a story,” Billy told the popular Barstool Sports podcast, right after he made a quip about bringing his Miter Saw to help them finish setup.
lol Bill Guerin weighs in on the Olympic hockey rink controversy via @spittinchiclets
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 19, 2025
"I'll bring my miter saw over there…" 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/7ABPXXR47g
Biz: “The ice situation at the Olympic Games. It’s kind of ridiculous, the fact that this has been announced for many years and the rink’s not done. What do you make of it?”
Whit: “You could see him in the corner, Biz. He’s putting in the boards, far end.
Guerin: “I’ll bring my miter saw over there… No, I don’t care. I don’t care. It’s just, it’s just a story. It’s gonna be fine. We’ll go over and play on whatever rink. Everybody’s gonna play on the same ice.”
Spittin Chiclets
Related: Hughes Brothers Could Join Forces in Minnesota
The men’s Olympic hockey tournament will not be lacking in Minnesota Wild representation. As many as 12 members of the organization could be playing in Italy next year.
Of course, that doesn’t bother Wild president of hockey operations Bill Guerin who will have three of his own players — Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes — on his Team USA 2026 Olympic squad.
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