The NHL could have a fresh challenge on the subject of setting its 2026-27 schedule with British Columbia and Alberta moving to everlasting year-round daylight saving time this fall.
The change will eliminate twice-yearly clock changes in those provinces. The time gap between B.C. and Alberta and parts of Canada that also turn clocks back on Nov. 1 would then shrink by an hour.
Game times for sporting events might be impacted, together with long-standing traditions like hockey doubleheaders on television.
“We’ll take care of it,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final in Raleigh, N.C. “It could impact some start times in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
“But we’ll take care of it just as we take care of whatever things come our way that we don’t get to regulate.”
The NHL normally releases its schedule in mid-July. Regular-season play often begins in early October.
“Hockey remains to be a giant draw,” said Chris Zelkovich, an instructor on the Toronto-based College of Sports Media.
“But in the event you throw roadblocks at people like starting games at (different or) inconvenient times, you’re going to lose audience.”
Last March, British Columbia finalized its plan to make the change. Alberta followed suit last month.
Although there are exceptions, Canadian teams based within the Eastern time zone — the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators — often start their home games at 7 p.m. local time.
Get every day National news
Get every day Canada news delivered to your inbox so you will never miss the day’s top stories.
That has previously arrange doubleheader timing with the teams based in Alberta and B.C. — the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks — who would normally be two or three hours behind the ET clock.
Trimming that point difference by an hour may require some strategic scheduling. There might be an overlap of games, or we could see later start times within the west to guard back-to-back TV windows.
“That is going to be a serious adjustment,” Zelkovich said of potential changes. “And in case your team is a Stanley Cup contender, that will not matter.
“But in the event that they aren’t, you may just say to yourself, ‘Well, it’s just not well worth the trouble (to look at).’”
Related Videos
The Winnipeg Jets are within the Central Time Zone, one hour behind ET.
A lost hour would even be felt when the Flames, Oilers and Canucks play road games along the U.S. West Coast. For instance, if the puck drops around 9:30 p.m. Alberta time, games may not finish until after midnight in that province.
“Ensuring hockey games remain accessible for fans in Oil Country is our priority,” Oilers president and chief revenue officer Stew MacDonald said in an email.
“And any shift that ends in later game start times is a priority — particularly because it creates challenges for families and young fans attending games or watching live broadcasts.”
The Flames declined to comment, while the Canucks didn’t return messages.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for broadcaster Sportsnet said the league sets the schedule and begin times. A TSN spokesperson said the network had nothing to share.
“I don’t think it fundamentally changes their business,” said Mike Naraine, an associate sport management professor at Brock University. “It would, from an promoting perspective, cause (broadcasters) somewhat bit more (work).
“It’s not an issue, but just one other thing that they only work through.”
The CFL, which has nine teams across the country, also uses regular doubleheaders. The regular season ends Oct. 24, so the league won’t really be impacted this 12 months.
— With files from The Canadian Press sports reporters Donna Spencer, Joshua Clipperton, Gemma Karstens-Smith and The Associated Press.
© 2026 The Canadian Press