NHL Expands Street Hockey Program to Australia to Cultivate Future Talent
The National Hockey League is making its way to Australia, bringing with it an expansion of its NHL Street Hockey program. Aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 16, this initiative seeks to introduce a variation of North American street hockey to the youth of Australia.
While Australia may not have a long-standing tradition of ice hockey, the sport has been present in the country for over a century. The Australian Ice Hockey League, comprising 10 teams, has been operating as a semi-professional league, attracting expatriate players and some former professionals. In fact, ice hockey in Australia dates back to 1904 when the Glaciarium Ice Palace in Adelaide hosted the first games of bandy, a precursor to ice hockey.
Despite its status as a non-traditional hockey market, the NHL views Australia as a viable long-term market due to the country’s passion for sports. Mark Black, the NHL’s vice president of international operations, emphasized the rich sporting history and knowledge present in Australia.
To kick off the expansion of the NHL Street Hockey program, the league plans to pilot it in specific schools in Victoria state, particularly in the Melbourne area. The aim is to test the program’s viability and success within these schools in the upcoming year before expanding it nationwide by mid-2024.
The NHL’s efforts in Australia could potentially bolster the development of home-grown talent in the sport. The league hopes that by introducing street hockey in schools, it will create a player pool for Australian teams in international competitions and increase the number of Australian players in the NHL.
The upcoming preseason games between the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena serve as a significant step in the NHL’s endeavors Down Under. Mark Black states that the NHL aims to leave a lasting impact beyond the duration of their time in the market, viewing their involvement in Australia as a long-term commitment.
With its expansion of the NHL Street Hockey program to Australia, the National Hockey League expects to cultivate future talent and contribute to the growth of ice hockey in this non-traditional market. By providing children the opportunity to engage with the sport through street hockey, the NHL hopes to ignite passion and create a lasting impact that will benefit Australian ice hockey for years to come.
