Roaring crowd of 8,992 sets a new Para ice hockey attendance record at Milan Cortina for US vs Italy

The opening Para ice hockey match at the Milan Cortina Winter Games set a new record attendance for the sport at a major tournament. The preliminary round match between four-time defending champion United States and host nation Italy drew 8,992 spectators for a high-octane atmosphere on Saturday night. “This attendance record is a great source of pride for Milano Cortina 2026 and for the entire Paralympic movement,” local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier said on Sunday.