NHL ice expert Dan Craig called the main Palasport Olimpico arena, with its excellent sight lines and huge entry hall, “state of the art.” However, a power outage three weeks ago at the secondary Torino Esposizioni arena nearly caused the entire ice sheet to melt, resulting in freshly laid paint seeping through the ice.

“That’s why we call it a test event,” Craig said Thursday. “There are still some things to work out.”

Six women’s teams and four men’s squads are taking part in test tournaments at the two facilities this week leading to the Feb. 10-26 Winter Games.

Besides the ice problem, the 6,165-seat Torino Esposizioni is complete. At the Palasport, only half the seats have been installed.

When it is finished, the Palasport will have a capacity of 12,116, making it the biggest hockey arena for the Olympics since the 20,000-seat Saddledome at the 1988 Calgary Games.

While figure skating took center stage at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Turin is promoting hockey as its top draw. Figure skating will take place at the 8,285-seat Palavela.

“We’ve sold more tickets for hockey than any other event,” said Jukka Pekka Vuorinen, hockey competition manager for the organizing committee. “In Italy, it’s something new. I really hope this gives something of a hockey legacy to Turin.”

However, Fulvio Crivello, a Turin-based hockey journalist and former player in the Italian league, is not optimistic about the arena’s hockey future.

“It’s a nice facility, but it’s too bad it won’t be used for hockey after,” Crivello said after Italy’s 2-1 win over Slovenia on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, hockey is not known here.”

While the ice-making equipment will remain after the Olympics, the Palasport will be used for concerts and other sports events. Torino Esposizioni will revert to an exhibition space after the games.

The focus for now is getting the facilities in shape for the games.

“I’m surprised. I didn’t think they would be this far along,” Team Canada women’s director Julie Healy said.

U.S. women’s coach Ben Smith also was impressed.

“They’re in the building process, but everything looks spectacular,” he said. “I think there should be no worries, just excitement, these are beautiful hockey facilities.”

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C10.