Put down the Molson and pick up Foster’s. Hockey is going to be slow this week.
The Kings and Coyotes will travel to Melbourne for two preseason games as part of the 2023 NHL Global Series, marking the NHL’s first game in Australia.
When you think of hockey, Australia isn’t one of the first countries that comes to mind. Blues forward Nathan Walker is currently the only Australian in the league, but Kings prospect Jordan Spence, who lived in Australia until he was 13, is also a candidate to break into the league and represent the Outback.
But that doesn’t mean Australians aren’t passionate about hockey. The sport is growing domestically and the NHL plays a role in bringing some of the world’s best players to Australia so the public can experience NHL hockey first-hand.
More information: Watch the 2023 NHL Global Series on Fubo (Free Trial)
Here’s what fans need to know about the 2023 NHL Global Series in Australia.
Why does the NHL play games in Australia?
This weekend’s NHL preseason games in Melbourne are part of the 2023 NHL Global Series, a series of international games played in both the preseason and regular season.
Not only will this be the first time an NHL game will be held in Australia, but it will also be the first ever league game to be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
David Proper, the NHL’s senior executive vice president of media and international strategy, said putting games on the back foot has been a focus of the league’s attention for years.
“I would say we’ve been monitoring it for the past, at least eight years,” Proper said. “That number is only going to increase. Australia is starting to be significantly over-indexed in most or all of the indicators. And we just feel like the opportunity is right.”
What is the NHL Global Series?
The NHL Global Series is an opportunity for the league to promote its products overseas. The Global Series has traditionally been held in various European cities;
The league has played internationally since the NHL’s inception in the early 1900s, but the Global Series was only recently added. This year will be the 5th edition of the International Series.
In addition to the two preseason games in Melbourne, the league will move across the pond to Sweden this year to play four regular season games. The Maple Leafs, Senators, Red Wings and Wild are scheduled to play two games each at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena.
When will the NHL Global Series Australia games be played?
Date: Saturday, September 23rd | Sunday, September 24th Time: 12:05am ET | 2:05pm local time
The 2023 NHL Global Series games in Melbourne are scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 24th.
Due to time differences, the match will be played after midnight ET, but the match will be played in Melbourne at 2:05 p.m. local time. Both contests are scheduled for 12:05 a.m. ET.
How to watch NHL Global Series Australia games
TV Channel: NHL Network | Sportsnet (Canada) Live Stream: Fubo, ESPN+ | Sportsnet+ (Canada)
For fans in the U.S. looking forward to NHL games, NHL Network will broadcast two preseason games in Australia.
As for streaming options, U.S. viewers can watch through NHL Network through Fubo, which offers a free trial. Additionally, ESPN+ is another streaming option to watch international matches.
Viewers in Canada can watch the game live on Sportnet or stream it through Sportsnet+.
Where will NHL Global Series Australia games be held?
Venue: Rod Laver Arena City: Melbourne, Australia
The venue for the Kings vs. Coyotes exhibition match is a well-known venue, but that’s not always the case in the hockey world.
Global Series matches in Australia will be held at Rod Laver Arena, home of tennis’ Australian Open. The venue is a multipurpose facility where you can enjoy sports such as tennis, basketball, and swimming.
This will be the first time a hockey game will be held at Rod Laver Arena. The facility was not suitable for an ice rink, so the NHL had to ship equipment to Australia on a cargo ship this summer. The luggage included everything from Link’s board to Zambonis.
Past NHL Global Series games
This is the fifth year the NHL has held an NHL Global Series event, and the first time the league has played games in Australia.
2017 NHL Global Series
Date City Arena Results November 10 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe Senators 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) No. 11 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe Senators 4, Avalanche 3
2018 NHL Global Series
Date City Arena Results October 1, Bern, Switzerland Postfinance Arena Devils 3, SC Bern 2 (OT) October 3, Cologne, Germany LANXESS Arena Oilers 4, Körner Haie 3 (OT). October 6th Gothenburg, Sweden Scandinavian Devils 5, Oilers 2 November 1st Helsinki, Finland Hartwell Arena Jets 4, Panthers 2 November 2nd Helsinki, Finland Hartwell Arena Panthers 4, Jets 2
2019 NHL Global Series
Date City Arena Results September 29 Berlin, Germany Mercedes-Benz Arena Blackhawks 3, Eisbaren Berlin 1 September 30 Lausanne, Switzerland Vaudoise Arena Lausanne HC 4, Flyers 3 October 4 Czech Republic; Prague O2 Arena Flyers 4, Blackhawks 3 8 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe Lightning 3, Saber 2 November 9 Stockholm, Sweden Ericsson Globe Lightning 5, Saber 3
2022 NHL Global Series
Date City Arena Results October 3rd Bern, Switzerland Postfinance Arena Predators 4, South Carolina Berne 3 October 4th Berlin, Germany Mercedes-Benz Arena Sharks 3, Eisbaren Berlin 1 October 7th Prague, Czech Republic O2 Arena Predators 4, Sharks October 8 Prague, Czech Republic O2 Arena Predators 3, Sharks 2 November 8 Tampere, Finland Nokia Arena Avalanche 6, Blue Jackets 3 November 9 Tampere, Finland Nokia Arena Avalanche 5, Blue Jackets 1
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