Milan’s main ice hockey arena good to go as Olympics begin

The GIST: Hop on the nearest zamboni — the Milano Cortina Olympics are officially underway, with mixed doubles curling starting today. The official Opening Ceremony isn’t until Friday, but there are plenty of updates to report before the torch reaches Milan. Andiamo.

🏒 The women’s hockey tourney starts tomorrow — and the ice is good to go: The Games’ official ice master has given the surface at Santaguila Arena two thumbs up, a reassuring sign considering the main arena’s extremely delayed construction. Who needs food stands anyway?

• Italy will break in that ice in tomorrow’s group stage game vs. France, while the U.S. (10:40 a.m. ET) and Canada (3:10 p.m. ET) will play at the smaller arena across town.

🇨🇦 Injuries force last-minute changes to Canadian rosters: 🏒 Reigning Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett is officially replacing center Anthony Cirelli in Milan as the latter was injured playing for his NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Sunday. Talk about stepping up.

• ⛸️ Meanwhile, the figure skating squad suffered a major blow on Monday: Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps have pulled out of the team event after Stellato-Dudek suffered an injury in training.

🇺🇸⛷️ Injured American skier Lindsey Vonn is not done yet: Despite rupturing her left ACL in a crash last Friday, Vonn’s comeback is still on — the 41-year-old plans to compete in her best event, the downhill race, on Sunday. Vonn insists she is not in pain and has not cried since the shocking injury. Couldn’t be us.