As the noise around the hockey facilities for the Olympic Winter Games continues to swell, Hockey Canada is making sure contingency plans are in place.
Speaking at Team Canada men's roster reveal on Wednesday, Hockey Canada senior vice president of hockey operations Scott Salmond said that, while he has faith the facilities will be ready in time, the organization has backup plans "should we need them."
"We have, again, taken some steps to make sure that we have backup plans should we need them," Salmond said. "But we fully expect, and we've heard from the IIHF and IOC, that the arena will be built and it will be ready, and that's our expectation."
Salmond did not elaborate on what the backup plans may be.
As the hockey world draws nearer to the Feb. 5 puck drop for the women's hockey tournament and Feb. 12 for men's, concerns about the playing surface have grown.
It was announced in early December that the rink would be three feet shorter and slightly wider than the NHL standard, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at a media appearance in Winnipeg on Dec. 10 that the slow construction of the main rink is "disappointing."
While the NHL has sent ice and facility experts to Milan to help with the process, Salmond added that he and other members of Hockey Canada have been visiting the main and secondary rinks and practice facilities to monitor the progress.
"We've spent a lot of time in Milan, ourselves. I've been there personally three times and the day after the world juniors ends I'll be going back," he said. "And so I told them yesterday we'd have a much better idea of where we are (for) facilities, both the main arena and the practice facility."
