As the NHL gears up for the 2026-27 season, it is confronted with a new scheduling challenge following British Columbia and Alberta’s decision to implement permanent daylight saving time. This shift, effective this autumn, will eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes in these provinces and reduce the time difference with parts of Canada that still observe standard time. This alteration could have significant implications for game schedules, particularly for hockey enthusiasts and broadcasters.
A New Time Landscape
The announcement that British Columbia would adopt permanent daylight saving time was made last March, with Alberta following suit just last month. This transition means that the time gap between these western provinces and others, especially those in Eastern Canada, will narrow by one hour. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged the potential impact on game times, particularly for teams in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
“We’ll deal with it just as we deal with whatever things come our way that we don’t get to control,” Bettman stated just prior to the Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh, North Carolina. The NHL typically unveils its season schedule in mid-July, with regular-season play commencing in early October.
Adjustments for Game Scheduling
The traditional start time for home games involving Canadian teams in the Eastern time zone—like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators—has usually been set for 7 p.m. local time. However, this timing has facilitated doubleheader broadcasts with teams located in Alberta and British Columbia, where home games typically start two or three hours later.
With the impending reduction of that time difference, strategic adjustments will be necessary. The NHL may face overlapping games during prime broadcasting slots or may need to schedule later start times in the west to maintain lucrative television windows. Chris Zelkovich, an instructor at the College of Sports Media in Toronto, highlighted the complications this could create. “If you throw roadblocks at people like starting games at inconvenient times, you are going to lose audience,” he cautioned.
Fan Experience at Risk
The impact of later game start times could be particularly pronounced for families and young fans. Stew MacDonald, president and chief revenue officer of the Edmonton Oilers, expressed concerns over how these changes might affect accessibility for fans. “Ensuring hockey games remain accessible for fans in Oil Country is our priority,” he noted in an email. “Any shift that results in later game start times is a concern—particularly as it creates challenges for families and young fans attending games or watching live broadcasts.”
The potential for games to extend well into the night is also a concern. If a game begins at 9:30 p.m. Alberta time, it could conclude after midnight, posing a challenge, especially for younger audiences.
Broader Implications for the League
While the immediate effects of the time change may seem manageable, experts suggest there could be broader implications for the league’s business operations. Mike Naraine, an associate professor of sport management at Brock University, commented, “I don’t think it fundamentally changes their business, but it might cause broadcasters a little bit more work from an advertising perspective.”
The Canadian Football League (CFL), which also operates with doubleheader scheduling, may face similar issues, although its regular season concludes on October 24 and thus won’t be significantly affected this year.
Why it Matters
The decision by British Columbia and Alberta to implement permanent daylight saving time could have far-reaching effects on the NHL’s scheduling and viewer engagement strategy. As the league strives to maintain its audience and ensure games are accessible to fans, it must navigate these new temporal dynamics. The balance between tradition and modern scheduling demands will be crucial in preserving hockey’s popularity in a rapidly changing landscape.