Olympic organizers are using golf carts to transport goaltenders from locker rooms to the ice at the Milano Santagiulia Arena.
The distance between the dressing rooms and the main hockey arena is so long that heavily padded netminders get a ride while their teammates walk in skates. It’s similar to bullpen carts for relief pitchers in baseball.
“You have a quick ride like you’re on a golf course before stepping onto the ice,” France’s **Antoine Keller** said. “I find it funny. I like it.”
Alice Philbert and Italy’s Martina Fedel were the first goaltenders to use the service during Thursday’s opening game at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
“It’s so fun,” Philbert said. “It’s the first time, but it’s so fun. We feel like we are pro players, so that’s fun for us.”
NHL players arriving Sunday will also get the golf cart treatment. Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal was the first NHL goaltender to ride before Czechia’s practice Friday.
“I don’t mind it,” Dostal said. “You’ve got to save your legs, you know?”
The setup at Milano Santagiulia requires players to go outside between the locker rooms and game arena.
Igor Nemecek, the Olympic hockey sport manager, said organizers made the decision about a year ago. The concept isn’t new – golf carts were also used at last year’s world championships in Herning, Denmark.
“We have this situation here it’s a permanent dressing room outside from the main arena, it was our decision, I don’t know, a year ago, OK, we organize this service for equipment managers and for goalies with these golf carts,” Nemecek said. “Everything is very good, and nobody have a problem with this.”
The service is exclusively for goaltenders and equipment staff. Skaters must make the walk themselves.
“I feel special,” Latvia’s **Kristers Gudlevskis** said. “I feel thankful that I don’t need to walk. And especially, if you need skate guards and everything, it’s just such a pain.”
The ride takes about five minutes and can be bumpy without seatbelts.
“You’re just all in your equipment, you can almost not move,” Keller said. “It’s still a long distance, but you have some strong core muscles because it’s moving. You’ve got to hold on.”
Veteran Swiss goaltender Reto Berra missed out on a cart ride because his team practiced at the nearby practice rink instead. Berra remembered using golf carts at the 2013 world championships when Switzerland won a medal.
“I love golf carts,” Berra said. “Who doesn’t?”
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
