(Reuters) – The National Hockey League (NHL) is planning to hold a series of regular-season games and two exhibition games in Europe this year marking their first international appearances since 2019.
The San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators will open their season on Oct. 7 and 8 in Prague, while the Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 4 and 5 in Tampere, Finland.
Additionally, the Predators will face SC Bern in Switzerland on Oct. 3 and the Sharks will play Eisbaren Berlin in Germany the next day after finishing their respective pre-season training camps in Europe.
The marquee North American ice hockey league has a large cohort of international talent, with more than 30% of its players this season born outside the continent, according to the NHL Players’ Association.
This will be the ninth season that the NHL has sent teams to Europe for regular-season games.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
