Ice hockey fans begin counting the days to puck drop long before the first face-off. Across the UK and beyond, the buzz starts building in late September as clubs gear up for action. The professional calendar follows a familiar rhythm – training camps, pre-season friendlies, then the long grind of the regular campaign. For players and fans alike, the start of the season means fresh ice, new rosters, and renewed hope.
NHL Season Schedule
The National Hockey League sets the pace for professional ice hockey worldwide. Its structure, spanning nearly nine months, offers an intense mix of skill, endurance, and drama – from the first puck drop in October to the crowning of the Stanley Cup champion in June.
Regular Season
The NHL regular season traditionally begins between 10-12 October. Each team plays 82 games – 41 at home and 41 away – testing consistency and squad depth. The campaign stretches through the winter months, running until mid-April, when final standings decide the playoff brackets.
For many fans who track form, statistics, or casually compare odds across different platforms — including sports betting not on GamStop — the early part of the season often helps shape expectations for the months ahead.
Pre-Season Warm-Up
Before the real action begins, players tune up during the pre-season, which usually kicks off in late September. These exhibition games allow coaches to assess line combinations, trial new tactics, and evaluate rookies pushing for roster spots. The pace may be slightly lower, but competition for places is fierce.
NHL All-Star Weekend
February brings a pause in the regular grind for the NHL All-Star Weekend – a showcase of elite skill and fan engagement. The event includes the Skills Competition and All-Star Game, celebrating top performers from across the league. For analysts and betting fans, it provides a mid-season checkpoint on player form and team momentum.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Once the regular season concludes, 16 teams enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning in April. It’s a best-of-seven knockout format, demanding both physical resilience and mental sharpness. The race to hoist the Stanley Cup – hockey’s most iconic trophy – typically ends by mid-June.
Each series delivers unpredictable twists, overtime thrillers, and breakout performances. The later rounds, especially the Stanley Cup Final, draw huge audiences both in North America and among UK fans who follow late-night broadcasts.
EIHL Season Dates
The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) – the top professional competition in the UK – follows a slightly shorter schedule than North America’s NHL. The regular season begins in early September and runs until late March, delivering fast-paced action across rinks in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each side plays multiple back-to-back fixtures, with weekend double-headers a regular feature of the calendar.
Alongside league play, the Challenge Cup takes place in the autumn months, running parallel to the regular season. It’s a popular early-season trophy that allows coaches to rotate line-ups while still chasing silverware. The tournament format mixes group stages with knockout rounds, often producing surprise results before Christmas.
Once the regular season concludes, attention turns to the EIHL Playoffs, held from late March through April. The top teams from the standings compete for national glory, with the Playoff Final Weekend in Nottingham marking the climax of the British hockey year.
After that, the league enters its summer break from May to August. Players use this period for recovery, off-ice conditioning, and pre-season contract negotiations, while clubs focus on recruitment and sponsorship deals ahead of the new campaign.
International Hockey Tournaments
International competition adds another dimension to the hockey calendar. The IIHF World Championship is the flagship event, held every May and lasting 18 to 25 days. The world’s top national teams compete for medals, while lower divisions play their own tournaments across Europe and Asia.
Every four years, the Winter Olympics brings hockey to a global stage. The next tournament takes place in 2026, co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Olympic hockey attracts massive worldwide audiences and often features NHL and EIHL players representing their home nations.
The World Junior Championship – a showcase for under-20 talent – traditionally begins on Boxing Day, running through early January. It’s one of the most followed tournaments in the sport, known for dramatic late-night finishes and breakout performances from future stars.
Throughout the season, national sides also compete in Euro Hockey Tour events. These smaller international stages – hosted by countries such as Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Switzerland – give teams valuable preparation ahead of World Championship duty.
Season Preparation and Training Camps
Pre-season preparation forms the backbone of a successful campaign. NHL teams open their training camps in September, usually two to three weeks before their first competitive match. Players undergo fitness testing, tactical drills, and intra-squad scrimmages to sharpen performance.
In the EIHL, the build-up begins earlier. Teams typically return to training in August, with friendlies against European opposition or domestic rivals serving as warm-up fixtures. Many players arrive from overseas leagues during this period, finalising contracts and settling into new systems.
Summer is also the busiest time for transfers and contract renewals. Clubs use this window to strengthen rosters and balance budgets, while agents negotiate deals that can shift the balance of power for the upcoming season.
As the rinks come alive again, bookmakers open their futures markets. By August, betting odds appear for Stanley Cup winners, division champions, and individual awards such as the Hart Trophy. The EIHL outright markets also surface towards the end of August, offering fans an early opportunity to back potential champions.
Many bettors favour pre-season wagers, where odds tend to be longer before bookmakers adjust to early-season performance trends. However, mid-season corrections – based on form, injuries, and standings – can also offer value for those following team progress closely. Understanding both phases helps make timing decisions smarter when placing long-term hockey bets.