The National Hockey League and Ice Hockey UK have announced a partnership to deliver free access to NHL Street Hockey sessions for children ages 5–11 in schools across the United Kingdom.

The initiative, part of IHUK’s 2024–2030 strategic plan, will provide accessible and inclusive opportunities for children to learn skills of the sport without the need for rink time or equipment. The pilot program will launch in six cities during the 2025–2026 season, with plans for expansion beginning in 2026–2027.

“We are thrilled to expand NHL Street Hockey into the UK, in collaboration with the IHUK,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. “The NHL has a long history and successful track record of using ball hockey to introduce new fans to the sport and help fans grow in their love for the game. With continued access to the game, we are committed to inspiring the next generation of hockey players.”

Each participating city will work alongside Ice Hockey UK to implement the program and will receive equipment provided by the NHL. Participants will also be invited to join a learn-to-skate program. The NHL Street Hockey global already operates programs in Sweden, Finland, Czechia and China.

“We are delighted to partner with an organization of the NHL’s global caliber and it shows the level of ambition that we have to grow ice hockey in the UK,” said IHUK Chief Executive Officer Henry Staelens. “This partnership will help us reach every community with this brilliant sport and drive down costs for parents. Whether kids dream of playing for Great Britain, to make it to the NHL or just want to have fun, NHL Street Hockey opens the door for everyone.”

Liam Kirk, the first player born and trained in England to be drafted in the NHL, is happy to see the next generation of Brits get a chance to play the sport.

“Ice hockey is the fifth largest spectator sport in the UK and NHL Street Hockey gives children who love the game or are brand new to it, an opportunity to experience playing in a fun, supportive environment,” Kirk said. “It will be a great addition to the coaching programs that we have and develop future talent through the IHUK pathway.”

Serie A, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association have announced a collaboration ahead of the participation by NHL players at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy.

Several events are planned around the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour, which will take place in Milan on August 22, one day before the 2025–2026 Serie A season opener on August 23.

“In North America, both soccer and hockey have incredibly dedicated, passionate fan bases,” said Andy Mitchell, chief executive officer and managing director of Lega Serie A USA. “This collaboration with the NHL and the NHLPA allows us to engage with a global audience in new and exciting ways while celebrating the anticipation surrounding the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.”

Serie A players and legends will participate alongside NHL’s players in events highlighting the connections between soccer and hockey players. NHL players will visit the training grounds of several of Serie A’s clubs in the surrounding region and attend a Serie A match at the San Siro, where the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics will be held.

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be the first time NHL players participate in the Olympics since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. In recent years, the NHL has upped its outreach into Europe with the Global Series, which has featured regular–season contests in Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, as well as exhibitions in Germany and Switzerland.

“As a global sport with players from 21 countries, the NHL is thrilled to collaborate with Lega Serie A to create unique content that celebrates the intersection of hockey and soccer,” said Keith Wachtel, president, NHL Business. “With the Winter Olympics on the horizon, Milan will serve as a focal point for sports fans around the world, so we are delighted to take the opportunity to promote our top hockey players in the environments of the biggest sport in Italy.”

The NHL, NHLPA and international officials on Wednesday finalized a long-ago agreed-to deal to send players to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, the first time that NHL players will be at the Games since 2014.

The league, union, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee  negotiated the agreement and announced it initially last year. The final touches took time to figure out and opens the door for NHL participation to continue in 2030, something that had also been agreed to in February 2024.

“This is a tremendous day for international ice hockey and for fans across the globe,” said IIHF President Luc Tardif. “At the initiative of the IIHF, we have worked collaboratively with NHL and NHLPA in close collaboration with the IOC and Milano Cortina Organizing Committee to make this a reality. Bringing the best players in the world back to the Olympic Games in 2026 is a major step forward for our sport.”

Last month, the 12 participating countries unveiled the first six players on their Olympic rosters. The men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Games is scheduled to run from February 11—22.

The NHL paused its season for the Olympics five times from 1998 through 2014, and most of the players now in the league grew up expecting to play on that stage. Disagreements over who would pay for insurance and travel costs, along with the time difference between South Korea and North America, were cited as factors in the NHL passing on Pyeongchang in 2018. The NHL passed on the 2022 Games in Beijing because of the pandemic.

“We are pleased to confirm that NHL players will be participating in the 2026 Olympic Games,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “Olympic participation will showcase the skill and talent of NHL players on an international stage. We are proud to collaborate with the IIHF, NHLPA, and IOC to bring the best hockey players in the world to the Olympics and make this happen in a way that benefits the game globally.”

Milan will be the first Olympics for a generation of stars led by Canadians Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar and Americans Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Adam Fox. The rosters could see the likes of McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard on the same team battling for gold.

The Olympics will also be one year after the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off involving the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland that proved to be a tremendous success in Montreal and Boston with Canada winning the championship over the United States in overtime at TD Garden.

“Best-on-best international tournaments like the Olympics provide the opportunity to create extraordinary moments for our players and fans alike,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA executive director. “The return to the Olympics marks a monumental moment for hockey and we thank our partners – the NHL, IOC and IIHF – for this collaborative process. The skill and passion on display in Milano-Cortina will build off the excitement of the 4 Nations Face-Off and continue our game’s global growth.”

The National Hockey League and NHL Players Association have launched a host city selection process for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey with the goal of finding two host cities between North America, Europe and other international markets.

The deadline for expressions of interest is July 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. ET for North American cities and July 30 at 6 p.m. ET for international cities. Interested cities will receive EOI materials outlining the tournament scope, a high-level overview of hosting expectations and a questionnaire to be completed detailing arena and host city criteria.

Select cities will be invited to participate in a formal RFP process launching in August. The host city selection process will be administered by Playfly Sports at WCH2028@playfly.com. Final host city selections are expected to be announced in early 2026. The NHL and NHLPA will proactively reach out to select cities, but any city is welcome to initiate contact and express its interest in hosting.

“The World Cup of Hockey is a showcase of international hockey at the highest level, and we are thrilled to begin the host city selection process for 2028,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “This tournament offers cities a chance to be part of something truly global, while delivering meaningful economic and cultural benefits in return.”

Scheduled for February 2028, the World Cup of Hockey is an 8-nation tournament and expected to feature round-robin and quarterfinal games in two host cities, with the semifinals and championship game anticipated to take place in one of those cities. The tournament is expected to be 12 days and include 17 games, along with extensive ancillary programming such as public viewing events.

This edition of the tournament marks the fourth World Cup of Hockey in history, following 1996, 2004, and 2016. It also builds on the momentum of 4 Nations Face-Off that was co-hosted by Montreal and Boston this past year.

“The World Cup of Hockey 2028 will bring together the best players in the world, representing their countries with pride,” said Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA. “We look forward to working with cities that want to help shape the future of international hockey and inspire a new generation of hockey fans.”

When you think of Canada, one of the first things that comes to mind is hockey.

The country that created the sport has seven teams in the NHL, each with a passionate fanbase. And when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin each spring, things get turned up to 10 in the areas fortunate enough to see their team to make a run for the Cup.

Five Canadian teams made the playoffs this season, with the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators losing in the first round. The three Canadian teams that remain — Winnipeg, Edmonton and Toronto — each has its unique way of celebrating a playoff run. 

Winnipeg Whiteout Tradition in Full Force

In 1987, during a playoff series with the rival Calgary Flames, the Whiteout was born in Winnipeg. The Flames told their crowd to color coordinate for home games, wearing all red. The Jets responded with their first Whiteout crowd and nearly 40 years later the tradition is stronger than ever.

“My parents, who are retired in their mid-sixties, still have the original white pom poms from 1987,” said Natalie Thiesen, vice president of tourism at Tourism Winnipeg. “Across our city we’re in full whiteout mania. For the playoffs only, the city takes out everything white. Whether it’s Jets jerseys or costumes at the Whiteout Street Parties or in the arena, and also within restaurants and bars and all sorts of establishments.”

The Canada Life Centre is one of the best scenes in sports when the Jets are in the playoffs. The team experienced perhaps its greatest playoff win ever when the Jets tied Game 7 of the first round with less than two seconds left against the St. Louis Blues, then won in double overtime.

“The city is electric. There’s a sense of pride, not just for Winnipeg, but in terms of a Canadian city making it to the next round,” Thiesen said. “It’s unique and it’s hard to articulate the feeling unless you’ve experienced it firsthand. Game 7 was a pretty emotional moment for all of Winnipeg.”

When the Jets have a home playoff game, not only is the arena filled, but there’s a crowd of 5,500 fans at the Whiteout Street Parties surrounding the arena. When you add up the more than 16,000 fans crammed into the Canada Life Centre to the thousands outside, it equals a dream for local businesses in downtown Winnipeg.

“This playoff run is driving increased local business, particularly in the downtown core, but also surrounding areas at the restaurants, bars, local retailers selling team merchandise, sporting goods — they’ve seen a noticeable uptick,” Thiesen said. “Places are benefiting from extended business hours; this is the boost that many small businesses need.”

Tickets are sold for $10 for the Whiteout Street Parties, with half of the money going to the United Way, a charitable organization that supports social programs across the city. There are giant screens with the game on and food trucks, with the area opening two hours prior to the game.

“That’s where everyone wants to be in Winnipeg,” Thiesen said. “There are so many great times of the year to be in Winnipeg, but the energy during the NHL playoffs is palpable and there’s a sense of real pride for Winnipeg. We have some of the best fans and an experience that can’t be matched by any other arena.”

When the Jets play a road game, there’s a watch party in the arena for fans to gather. People around the city wear white to the office on game days in unity. Signs, ballons, pom poms —  everything is white around the city.

Thiesen was in Edmonton last June when the Oilers played in the Stanley Cup Final and hopes Winnipeg experiences that feeling soon.

“Even though my team was out, I was definitely in full support behind the Oilers at that moment in time,” Thiesen said. “Canadian hockey fans support each other if our team is out.”

Edmonton Electrified During Playoffs

The Edmonton Oilers had one of the greatest runs in hockey history when the franchise won five Stanley Cups between 1984–1990. In a blue-collar city that bleeds orange and blue, the area is at a fever pitch when the Oilers are making a playoff run.

“The great thing about the Oilers is they’re so rooted in the community that whether you like hockey or not, you want to be a part of it,” said Reed Clarke, Sport Edmonton chief executive officer. “We have a city of over a million people now and a lot of them have never put on skates before — or maybe just came to the city or province the last couple of years — and you see them rocking their Oilers jersey.”

Edmonton has an insatiable appetite for hockey. Rogers Place packs in more than 18,000 people for a home game and Clarke says another 25,000 to 30,000 attend the various outdoor fan parties during a home playoff game with what’s shown on TV just a small portion of what’s going on in downtown.

The televised area is called the Moss Pit, which is named for Joey Moss, a long-time locker-room attendant with the Oilers who passed away in 2020. The Moss Pit is only the tip of the iceberg, with 3,000 people. The Oilers in recent years have opened two additional fan areas to accommodate demand.

“It’s a pretty young crowd — I would say early twenties. If the game is at 7 or 8 local time, they’ll be lining up starting at noon and waiting around to get into one of these spots just to be in that vibe and to hang out there,” Clarke said. “You’re looking at about 25,000 to 30,000 people coming down to one specific area of downtown to watch a game, so the economic boost is huge.”

There is not a bar, restaurant or any kind of retail store downtown that does not have some type of special related to the Oilers, whether a drink special or merch sale. “They really count on this traffic, during both home and away games. It’s very significant,” Clarke added.

When the Oilers are playing a road playoff game, the team fills Rogers Place at $10 a pop for watch parties, with proceeds going to the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation. Even during road games, thousands show up in the streets as well.

“I would compare it to a giant football tailgate experience,” Clarke said. “If people have other events going on, everybody’s changing their times so it doesn’t interfere with the game. It’s like those scenes you see of Friday Night Lights at a high school football game in Texas where everything’s shut down for the game. It takes over everything.”

The Oilers have not won a Cup since 1990, but made a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 and lost in Game 7 of the 2024 Final to Florida. But one thing that has not changed with each generation is the rabid fan base.

“I remember during Game 6 last year, it was insane even trying to get anywhere downtown,” Clarke recalled. “It was hard to get within 10 blocks of the arena. Cars were going crazy, everyone was lined up, honking and high fiving on the street. People were reaching out of their cars giving high fives.”

The city is getting plenty of free publicity during playoff games, which includes drone shots of the city and a showcase of how passionate sports fans are in the region.

“Those shots show how an arena and all the developments around it have been a catalyst for the city,” Clarke said. “And I think some of the shots show what the city actually looks like — that this is a big metropolis in Northern Canada.”

Clarke hopes the showcase will lead to more professional sporting events coming, including NBA exhibitions, WNBA games, PWHL, rugby, football or baseball.

“We’re a sports town. We’ve always been a sports town. It’s in our DNA and we’re all about that,” he added. “And the sports tourism side of our economy is significant — I think it’s over 10 percent. We’re always looking for other things we can attract, and we want to show the world that we always show up, we support and we love having a party and hosting an event.”

Maple Leafs a Huge Draw in Toronto

Toronto is the fourth biggest city in North America. It has 3 million people in the city and another 4 million in the Greater Metro Area. And when the Maple Leafs are making a playoff run, those 7 million people are along for the ride.

“Hockey is definitely a massive draw. And we always have people that come in regionally and will drive into the city or take the train for a day during a playoff game,” said Kathy Motton, senior manager of corporate communications at Destination Toronto.

“Sometimes they stay a night and book a hotel, which is obviously great for the city as well, because anytime anybody does that, they’re going to do more than one thing in the city. There’s a high likelihood that they’re not just going to go to the game or watch the game — they may go to a restaurant or a bar, or maybe they’ll hit an attraction. So that spending does spread throughout the city.”

Scotiabank Arena can hold nearly 19,000 people for a Maple Leafs game and several thousand more are at the watch party in Maple Leaf Square, adjacent to the arena. There are dozens of bars that host watch parties, led by Real Sports, which is located in Maple Leaf Square and features a 39-foot HD screen. Scotiabank Arena and its surrounding area is a stone’s throw from Union Station, Toronto’s transportation hub.

“A lot of people jump on a train and come in from outside of the city and it’s actually quite easy for them to come in,” Motton said. “Not all cities have their arena located right downtown like that. So it means that people can come in and easily walk over to the arena or any of the bars or shops, and then get back out of the city by train.”

Toronto has several other professional sports teams including the Raptors, Blue Jays and Toronto FC. On the women’s side, the city has the Sceptres in the PWHL as well as AFC Toronto and a WNBA franchise coming next year.

“We’re very much a sports city, but we really are a hockey city,” Motton said. “Even during the regular season in Toronto, the arena is always full and there are always people in sports bars across the city watching the game. So when you look at a series in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it just elevates it.”

Motton points out the 2024 NHL All-Star weekend in Toronto generated an estimated $54 million in economic benefits for the city and hotel demand was up 35 percent over that period. And while the Maple Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967, the Leafs have for years had one of the best rosters in the league and one would have to think eventually they will break through.

“If we can continue to proceed further into the playoffs, you’re going to see that excitement increase,” Motton said. “Winning the Cup would be massive. Luckily, we do have the recent experience when the Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019. So we know what that party and that level of excitement afterwards looks like and we’ll apply all the learnings if the Leafs were to win.”

For a city with a deep sports pedigree, St. Louis has seen its share of success and heartbreak. Over 100 years ago, in a different era, it was one of first hosts of the modern Olympic Games. The NFL was here and then it left. The St. Louis Blues waited decades before finally hoisting a Stanely Cup. And collegiate events have come and gone over the years.

But with the arrival of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship — the Frozen Four — and a new leader at the helm of the city’s convention bureau, comes a chance for St. Louis to be back on the national sporting spotlight.

“We have to have a perfect, synergistic relationship with the St. Louis Sports Commission and so a big part of my role coming in is to build that relationship up to what it needs to be,” Explore St. Louis President and CEO Brad Dean said, having arrived from Discover Puerto Rico a few months ago. His other tentpoles are making sure investment continues in downtown and a brand builds around the destination.

“It’s a special sports identity, but yet sports plus,” Dean said. “This is one of a few places where you could see a great sporting event and just a few minutes away stroll through a park that’s larger than Central Park. A big part of our role is to amplify and expand upon the brand of St. Louis, which is anchored in sports and make it a great sports market that offers so much more entertainment. And I think that’s particularly important.”

Ideal Frozen Four Mix

This year’s Frozen Four started Thursday with the semifinals before Saturday’s championship game. It’s a mix this year with a traditional powerhouse in Boston University facing a first-time Frozen Four participant in Penn State after Denver, the defending champion, plays Western Michigan — the No. 1 team in the country making its Frozen Four debut after more than five decades.

“We’re thrilled with the four teams that we got and their backstories,” said Tim Ryan, director of communications for the St. Louis Sports Commission. “We’re really delighted that we get to put on a production for two blueblood programs and fan bases and two new ones and be their first experience at the Frozen Four.”

The sports commission staff had the normal mix of excitement and the feel of a tiny bit of pressure the weekend before the Frozen Four, making sure things go off without a hitch. The commission is the official host working with Explore St. Louis and other city entities on hotel sourcing and setting up community events, all with an eye toward making an impression on the NCAA ahead of the next bid cycle. St. Louis has hosted the Frozen Four twice before, in 1975 and 2007.

“We want to check all those boxes,” Ryan said. “Different (NCAA) committees for sports and championships, they all talk. If they get a fabulous, unforgettable experience in St. Louis, we believe that bodes well for future events.”

Hosting the Frozen Four was also helped by a three-phase renovation of the Enterprise Center that was completed in 2019. Along with a laundry list of engineering work and scoreboard improvements, there was wholescale replacement of seats, club areas and suite improvements.

“Our partners at Enterprise Center, they want to make sure that everything in the building is top shelf and a first class experience,” Ryan said. “I’ve been in a lot of buildings and for different events. It’s Midwestern hospitality to the max. I think they value very much everybody having a great experience so that they want to come back again and again.”

“Hosting the Frozen Four is a huge event for us in that it shows we are in the upper echelon of venues and cities that have the capability of hosting major hockey events,” added Roger Hacker, the St. Louis Blues’ chief communications officer. “It all goes back to when the venue got renovated in 2019 and these events don’t come without that improvement in the venue. To get that renovation done, to be able to work with the St. Louis Sports Commission to get events like this, it’s everything that we want to be to hockey in St. Louis.”

Hockey on the Rise

That entertainment starts before the first puck is dropped at the Enterprise Center when the Blues take the ice in a region the franchise has branded “the Heartland of Hockey.” Even during intermissions, there is a social spot where a band plays as thousands of fans walk around and eat from the various concession stands and crowd into the team shop.

“St. Louis is a hugely passionate sports city,” Hacker said. “Our games, Cardinal games, are really a huge part of the social fabric of St. Louis. And when the teams are playing well like this, it’s just a magnet for activity that everybody wants to be a part of and not miss out on.”

Nobody was missing out on the Blues last Saturday, an eventual 5–4 win over the Colorado Avalanche that was the team’s record 12th victory in a row. For a franchise that is over 50 years old, its local fanaticism grew stronger thanks to a magical run in 2019 that ended with the team’s first Stanley Cup title.

“When I got here (11 years ago), I would meet older fans who would tell me the only thing I have left in life to happen before I die is see a Stanley Cup,” said Blues CEO Chris Zimmerman. “I would often reply that’s fantastic, no pressure — I understand the assignment.”

Assignment completed; the Blues brought not only St. Louis its first Cup title but a parade that drew an estimated 1 million people. The team has since hosted the 2020 NHL All-Star Game and is in position to make the playoffs this season after a two-year hiatus. The team’s ownership group also works on yearly improvements throughout the Enterprise Center to keep its fan engagement high and bring in marquee events. In an area where there was one hockey rink when the team was founded in 1967, now there are 27 rinks in the region.

“I got to work in Vancouver for three years in a similar role and it’s one of the great Canadian cities, one of the great North American cities,” Zimmerman said. “Hockey in Canada rules and I’ll put the passion and the energy of the St. Louis Blues fan base up against anybody.”

Former Olympic Games Host

The Enterprise Center hosts more than hockey, however. It is the traditional site of the Illinois vs. Missouri “Braggin’ Rights” men’s college basketball game each season. (Dean hopes to bring the football rivalry game back to town in the future.) Explore St. Louis has a long relationship with Capital Sports, a volleyball tournament organizer that regularly brings large youth events to the region.

“That’s really one of the things is that you’re able to utilize the venues for other things,” Dean said. “Those are the regular one-offs that you can use to broaden your brand.”

Then there’s also one thing many may not know about St. Louis — it is a former Olympic Summer Games host. The city hosted the Games in 1904 in conjunction with the World’s Fair. And it was in St. Louis that the current three-medal format of gold, silver and bronze for first, second and third place was first introduced.

St. Louis will also host the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and since 1995, it has hosted “Arch Madness,” the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball conference tournament. The Enterprise Center has hosted two women’s basketball Final Fours (2001 and 2009) and eight NCAA Wrestling Championships with a ninth to come in 2027. It also hosted the PWHL in March with 8,578 on hand to see Ottawa beat Boston.

“Whether NCAA championships, U.S. Figure Skating, USA Gymnastics, those are coveted events for their economic impact and the brand value they bring to a city and a region,” Zimmerman said. “We’re linked arm in arm with the sports commission, Explore St. Louis and the rest of our community. I think it’s one of the reasons we win these events.”

UFL Remains a Big Draw

There is, of course, another professional championship to mention — the Vince Lombardi Trophy, won by the “Greatest Show on Turf” when the then-St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.

St. Louis and the NFL have a long, winding history. The Cardinals left for Arizona in 1987, leaving the area without a team until the Rams came in 1995. Through 20 seasons, the Super Bowl was the highlight for a franchise that also made another Super Bowl appearance before things on the field turned downward. The club eventually returned back to Southern California after the 2015 season.

But then came the Battlehawks in 2020 as part of a re-launched XFL and then, after a league hiatus, they returned in 2023. Immediately becoming the league’s most successful franchise in fandom, the Battlehawks hosted the inaugural UFL championship game in 2024.

“Residents have embraced the Battlehawks as part of the sports culture of St. Louis, with a little bit of we’ll show the NFL how much we love football,” Dean said. “Look, the NFL made a really unfortunate decision that has caused St. Louis a lot of jobs and economic impact, but it hasn’t changed the fact that this community loves football. And I think that the Battlehawks are benefiting from the fact that they love good football.”

The fandom for the Battlehawks is, in many ways, sustaining the UFL’s operations. Last year, one-third of the league’s reported attendance of 513,105 came from St. Louis. This year the league has a total attendance of 98,753 through two weeks — with nearly one-third of that, 32,115, coming from Sunday night’s opener at The Dome at America’s Center.

The concourses at halftime were full of fans checking out the merchandise kiosks, team stores and concessions. Overheard were mentions about the legacy of football in St. Louis — saying “Kroenke” or “Goodell” can bring a dirty look — but mostly there was appreciation. The first downs drew a chant of “S-T-L,” the touchdowns celebrated wildly and the fans went home happy after a win over San Antonio.

As the doors flew open and fans went out into downtown, some for a nightcap at the bar and some to walk home, “Ka-Kaw” rang out repeatedly, a sort of call and response to showcase fandom for the home team. No matter what the league or what the nickname is, in this area, having St. Louis in the name is enough to be worthy of support.

The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins will play in the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden with a pair of regular season games at Avicii Arena in Stockholm on November 14 and November 16.

Stockholm has hosted the most NHL regular season games of any city outside North America, with next season’s two-game contest to raise that total to 18. The 2025 NHL Global Series will be the first NHL games played at Avicii Arena since its re-opening last month after a full year of renovations.

The 2025 NHL Global Series will be the 15th NHL season to include regular season games outside North America. Since 1997, the NHL has staged 46 regular-season games at venues outside North America. The 2025 NHL Global Series will be the 47th and 48th regular season games played overseas.

Sweden is one of the NHL’s most important global markets, accounting for the highest representation of players of any country outside North America (9.7 percent of NHL players this season were born in Sweden).

The Penguins will play abroad for the first time since 2008, when they faced the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Premiere Series in Stockholm. The 2025 NHL Global Series will mark only the second time Sidney Crosby has played overseas in a Penguins uniform in what will be his 21st NHL season.

The Predators last played abroad in the 2022 NHL Global Series Czechia when they faced the San Jose Sharks in two regular-season games in Prague. The Predators roster includes Swedish star and franchise goals leader Filip Forsberg, as well as fellow countrymen Andreas Englund and Adam Wilsby.

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association have relaunchd an enhanced Women’s Hockey Advancement Committee with ongoing development opportunities for coaches, increased investments in girls hockey programs via the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund and NHL Foundation’s ‘Empowerment Grant for Girls Hockey,’ and special events in-arena across all 32 clubs.

The Women’s Hockey Advancement Committee’s members is led by new Committee Chair Lyndsey Fry. Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell this season became the first woman behind the bench at the NHL. In its fifth year, the NHLCA Female Coaches Program has more than 100 women, the largest membership in program history.

“Our 16 members and 15 advisors have extensive experience at all levels of hockey and we are excited to usher in the next wave of the Women’s Hockey Advancement Committee,” said Fry. “This wide breadth of knowledge on and off the ice will help this committee develop – and implement – action items for the next generation alongside the NHL and NHLPA’s continued investment into girls and women in hockey.”

The NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund supports all 32 cubs with grants to establish, or expand, hockey programs for girls and women. Participation numbers in Learn to Play (U.S.) and First Shift (Canada) programs continue to rise year over year, with girls representing 22% in the U.S. (compared to 20% the previous season) and 42% in Canada (compared to 38% the previous season).

“There continues to be a spectacular amount of growth in women’s hockey at all levels of the game, both on and off the ice,” said Kim Davis, NHL senior executive vice president of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs. “With the support of the NHL and its 32 clubs, young girls and boys are seeing more positive role models. Young women and men are learning about the different paths to hockey. And professional women and men are bringing their wide breadth of skills and experience to the game. This happens because of commitment, intentionality, and visibility.”

Last week during the 2025 NHL Stadium Series festivities in Columbus, the NHL Foundation U.S. announced the inaugural recipient of the ‘Empowerment Grant for Girls Hockey’ to the Columbus Ice Hockey Club, which serves more than 3,000 girls and boys in Central Ohio each year.

The World Cup of Hockey will return in February 2028 to extend a regular schedule of international competition going into nearly a full decade.

After 4 Nations Face-Off — which started last night — hockey fans will see NHL players compete in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, then the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps.

The announcement was made at a news conference at Bell Centre in Montreal at the 4 Nations Face-Off featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh. The 4 Nations Face-Off is pared down from initial planning because of questions over Russia’s participation given the country’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

“International best-on-best competition is very important to our players — representing their countries on the ice is in their DNA — and hockey fans love it,” Bettman said. “Resuming Olympic participation next season and staging a World Cup of Hockey in February 2028 will provide expanded opportunity for more players to represent more nations in best-on-best competition. With this tournament — and the World Cup’s return to regular rotation — the NHL and NHLPA take a major step in our joint commitment to international hockey.”

The 2028 edition will mark the fourth World Cup of Hockey after prior editions in 1996, 2004 and 2016. Details are limited about the event, including how many teams will participate, the format and location of games. Bettman said there will be at least eight teams and that the league will be asking cities for bids on hosting games.

The league and union are going ahead with the tournament without the International Ice Hockey Federation, with Bettman saying “this is an all NHL” event. The tournament will be played on NHL-sized rinks using the league’s rules and officials. Other competition details will be determined in the coming months.

“It is one of the greatest honors for any player who gets to play on the global stage wearing their home country’s hockey sweater,” said Walsh. “Hockey fans around the world are about to be treated to exceptional hockey with the best players in the world competing against each other for international hockey glory.”

The PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational will be moved out of the Pacific Palisades area after wildfires near Riviera Country Club and throughout Southern California, the latest in a series of sporting events moved or postponed.

The Genesis Invitational is hosted by Tiger Woods. As well as annually hosting the tournament, Riviera Country Club is also scheduled to host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open, golf at the 2028 Olympic Summer Games and the 2031 U.S. Open.

“We are grateful for the life-saving efforts of first responders and the tireless work being done to put an end to the tragic wildfires,” the Tour said in a statement on Thursday. “Out of respect for the unfolding situation, we have determined that The Genesis Invitational 2025 will be played at an alternate location the week of Feb. 10-16. A venue update and additional tournament information will be provided in the coming days.”

The NBA postponed two Los Angeles Lakers home games against Charlotte and San Antonio plus a Clippers home game against the Hornets. The Lakers game against the Hornets will be played on February 19 with the Clippers hosting the Hornets on March 16. The date for the Spurs at Lakers game will be announced at a later time.

The NHL also postponed a Los Angeles Kings home game against the Calgary Flames. That game has not yet been rescheduled.

The Rose Bowl Stadium, which hosted its 111th Rose Bowl game on January 1, is being utilized as a hub for donations to aid the victims of the nearby Eaton Canyon fire, which is seven miles east of the stadium. The stadium and its adjacent parking lots are being used for emergency response efforts.