Canada’s Ice Palazzo welcomes athletes, friends and family at the Winter Olympics

Heather Butts visits the Canadian Ice Palazzo in Milan, a gathering place for athletes and families at the Winter Games.

MILAN -- The Hockey Canada Ice Palazzo is a community hub for Team Canada hockey players, speed skaters, figure skaters and their families, a place Canadians in Milan are calling home during the Winter Games.

“All in one venue, we don’t do things together very often, and it’s great to be able to work with the other sports. It’s one of the beautiful things of the Olympics. It provides opportunities to do things together,” said Dean McIntosh, senior vice-president of revenue, fan engagement and community for Hockey Canada.

From the outside, on a little side street, the building appears unassuming, but up the few steps and through the front door, it’s as though you’re walking into an upscale venue with smiling faces greeting guests at the door.

In the first room, the walls are painted like a dressing room with gear hanging representative of the three sports: figure skating, speed skating and hockey.

Typically, the Canadian Olympic Committee builds a “Canada House” for athletes, family and friends, but it faced challenges this time around as the Games are widespread throughout northern Italy.

Instead, the committee is doing rotating event venues.

The first “red carpet” hallway takes you through an old and authentic Italian bathhouse. The doors are transformed into locker room doors, each dawning a photo of a famous Olympian and their experience.

“It really does celebrate Canadiana,” said McIntosh, adding it showcases current and former athletes, recognizing alumnus, and those who continue to give back to ice sports.

The hallway, illuminated in red, has a floor that appears to be Italian mosaic tiles in a maple leaf design with Canadian music, like the Tragically Hip, playing overhead.

Round the corner and guests will find a comfortable “theatre” room with a large screen and comfortable chairs to catch the game, race or performance.

Outside, there’s an expansive courtyard, a large Canada sign illuminated in red and in the middle of the pool, a hockey rink.

“They said, you know ‘We actually build an ice rink in the middle of the pool in the winter,’ and I said I’m sold we’re going to make this the Palazzo,” said McIntosh.

They dressed it up with hockey boards and brought in skates and helmets, a little activity off the “greenhouse” where people gather for family-style dinner at picnic tables.

There’s also cornhole games, mini hockey sticks and Adirondack chairs.

‘This is all about family in the middle of Milan’

As with most major sports tournament, families and friends want to participate.There are more than 300 people in the men’s hockey family program, with 250 in the women’s. Speedskating and figure skating have about another 175.

“So, we’ve got close to 700 friends and family in Milan, and to have a space they can go between hockey games, between a speed skating race, between performances in figure skating, we wanted them to have somewhere to collect together, to share experiences and have food and enjoy the odd drink and share that family experience together in Milan,” Said McIntosh.

Rory, Hockey player Natalie Spooner’s son, spent more than an hour on the ice, soaking in some play time while his mother was at practice.

“Obviously, we want to win gold, but at the same time our families have had a huge impact on us and making sure we get here. So, in a sense, this is also a space for them to be able to enjoy the Olympics and give thanks to them,” said Spooner, adding she’s grateful Hockey Canada was able to put up such a venue for athletes and their families.

“It’s so special, even tonight. I had practice today, so to be able to come back here and see my family even for a short visit and kind of have a protected space and even just for them to celebrate and meet other people and have that Canadian vibe in Italy, it’s great to have,” said Emerance Maschmeyer, taking a break from eating dinner with her family, including young son. Her wife and former Team Canada athlete Genevieve Lacasse experienced other “Canada House” venues at previous Olympics, but nothing like this.

“This is insane… like the rink, it’s wild,” said Lacasse.

For parents of Olympians, they too are soaking in the moment.

“It still kind of seems surreal, actually. We’re just thrilled that he made the team and to be here it’s just been an honour,” said Cindy Horvat, mother of Bo Horvat, who is making his Olympic debut with the men’s hockey team.

“It’s been great. You get to meet a lot of the other families, parents, friends and it’s just like the team. They all just gel together and everyone’s having a really good time,” said Tim Horvat, Bo’s father.

McIntosh says the large venue, complete with food and drinks, is a shared partnership between Hockey Canada, Figure Skating and Speed Skating.

“I would call it an investment in Canadians. From a Hockey Canada perspective, we said, ‘How do we invest in sport and make families feel they’re part of something,’” said McIntosh.