The air is getting a bit crisper, and if you’re anything like me, your internal clock is already screaming for the sound of a puck hitting the boards. You want to know when will hockey start. It’s the question that defines the late-summer itch for every fan from Montreal to Sunrise. Honestly, the answer depends on which "hockey" you’re actually looking for, but for most of us, that means the NHL.
We are currently looking at the 2026-27 cycle. The NHL has found a pretty comfortable groove with its scheduling lately, assuming no global catastrophes or labor disputes get in the way.
Expect the preseason to kick off in mid-September. Usually, the third week of September is when those split-squad games start popping up in random neutral-site rinks. The real deal—the regular season—almost always drops in the first or second week of October. For 2026, we are looking at a likely start date around Tuesday, October 6th, or Wednesday, October 7th.
The NHL Calendar Breakdown: From Training Camp to Puck Drop
If you’re trying to plan a trip or just want to know when to reactivate your streaming subscription, you have to look at the milestones. It’s not just one day where everyone starts skating. It’s a slow burn.
First, you’ve got the rookie tournaments. These usually happen about a week before the main camps open. We’re talking early September. It’s where the high-draft picks like whoever went first overall in the 2026 Draft get their first taste of a "pro" atmosphere. Then, the veterans report.
Training camps generally open around September 17th or 18th.
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This is where the real drama happens. You’ve got guys on Professional Tryouts (PTOs) fighting for their lives, and established stars just trying not to blow out a knee in a meaningless exhibition game. The preseason schedule usually runs for about 12 to 14 days. By the time we hit the first week of October, the rosters are trimmed, the cap gymnastics are finished, and we’re ready for the banner-raising ceremonies.
Why October?
The NHL loves October. It avoids the peak of the MLB postseason drama early on and stays clear of the NFL’s opening weekend frenzy in September. It gives the ice technicians in warmer climates like Florida, Vegas, and Utah (shoutout to the Delta Center) a chance to actually keep the surface frozen without fighting 90-degree humidity quite so hard.
When Will Hockey Start for Minor Leagues and Juniors?
The NHL isn’t the only game in town. Sometimes you want that raw, high-scoring energy of the "O" or the grit of the "A."
- The AHL (American Hockey League): Usually starts about a week after the NHL. Expect them to lace up around October 16th, 2026. They wait so they can see which players get cut from NHL camps and sent down.
- The CHL (OHL, WHL, QMJHL): These leagues start earlier. If you’re in a junior hockey town, you’re looking at late September, often around September 25th. They play a ton of games, so they need the head start.
- NCAA College Hockey: This is a bit of a wildcard but generally follows the early October trend. Some teams play "exhibition" games against Canadian universities as early as the first weekend of October.
International Breaks and the 2026 Winter Olympics Factor
We have to talk about the elephant in the room for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 windows. The Olympics.
For the first time in a long time, the NHL is actually planning to go to the Winter Olympics in February 2026 (Milan-Cortina). This shifts the entire flow of the season. When the NHL goes to the Olympics, the schedule becomes incredibly compressed. This affects the "start" because teams might be forced to play more frequent games early in the year to make room for that two-week break in February.
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What does this mean for the 2026-27 start? Usually, after an Olympic year, players are exhausted. There’s often talk about pushing the start date back, but the league rarely does. They want that 82-game revenue. So, even if your favorite star played high-intensity hockey in Italy in February and went on a deep playoff run in June, they’ll still be expected back at camp in mid-September.
Misconceptions About the NHL Start Date
People always ask me if the Global Series changes the start date for everyone.
Short answer: No.
Long answer: It only changes it for the two teams involved. The NHL loves opening the season in Prague or Stockholm. If the 2026-27 season features a Global Series, those two teams might play their "opener" as early as Friday, October 2nd. Then they fly back, deal with massive jet lag, and don't play again for 10 days while the rest of the league catches up.
It's a weird quirk. If you’re a betting person, keep an eye on those teams. They often struggle in their second and third games because their internal clocks are completely trashed.
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What about the PWHL?
The Professional Women's Hockey League has been a massive hit. Their schedule is a bit different. In their inaugural seasons, they started in January. However, the goal has always been to move that start date earlier as the league stabilizes. For the 2026-27 season, don't be surprised if the PWHL starts their "pucks on ice" moment in late November or early December. They aren't quite on the October-June cycle yet, but they're getting there.
Why the Schedule Sometimes Shifts
Money. It always comes down to the TV deals.
ESPN and TNT in the States, and Sportsnet in Canada, have a massive say in the "Doubleheader Wednesday" or "Tripleheader Tuesday" openers. If there's a major conflict—say, a massive political event or a weirdly timed World Series game—the league might nudge things by a day. But generally, the NHL is a creature of habit.
Gary Bettman likes his routine. The Board of Governors likes their revenue.
How to Prepare for the Season Launch
If you're sitting there wondering when will hockey start because you've got jerseys to buy or a fantasy draft to prep for, here is the timeline you should actually care about:
- Late August: This is when "Captain’s Skates" happen. It’s unofficial. Players just show up at the local practice facility to get the rust off. There’s no media coverage usually, just grainy Instagram stories.
- September 15: Mark this as the "Anxiety Zone." If a restricted free agent isn't signed by now, they're probably missing training camp. Think William Nylander years ago or Jeremy Swayman's 2024 drama.
- October 1: The final waiver wire frenzy. This is the most underrated part of the season. Good players get cut because of cap issues and get claimed by bottom-feeder teams.
- The Night Before: Check the lines. DailyFaceoff or LeftWingLock are your best friends here.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Stop checking the calendar every day and do these three things instead:
- Audit your streaming service: If you're using ESPN+, make sure your login still works. If you're in Canada using Sportsnet+, check if they've hiked the price again (they probably have).
- Check the Preseason Schedule: Often, preseason tickets for NHL games in non-NHL cities (like Kraft Hockeyville sites) go on sale in July or August. These are way cheaper and great for kids.
- Sync your digital calendar: Most team websites offer a "Sync to Calendar" button for the schedule. Do this in August as soon as the official 82-game grind is released. It’ll automatically update with game times and broadcast channels so you aren't scrambling at 7:00 PM on a Tuesday.
Hockey is coming. It’s a long summer, but that first October puck drop makes the heat worth it.