Permanent daylight time means several late NHL start times for Flames, Oilers, Jets and Canucks

The Story

Alberta’s decision to stop moving clocks back in November and ahead in March, keeping provinces on daylight time permanently, has reshaped parts of this season’s NHL schedule for several Western Canada teams.

The change will be felt most sharply in Calgary, where puck drops are set for 9 p.m. on eight Calgary Flames games, including two at the Saddledome. Flames captain Mikael Backlund said preparation is key for players facing later starts, noting, “Professional athletes got to do what we got to do to get ready,” adding, “There’s caffeine out there.”

Flames forward Ryan Strome said the adjustment is biggest for his family at home, given his children’s ages. He explained, “They always want to come to games, and the nine o’clock games they definitely can’t come to,” and said, “That’s probably the biggest adjustment, is that my tickets will be free those nights because my family can’t go.”

Calgary president and chief executive officer Robert Hayes said the team does not control game timing, stating, “It’s out of our control,” and adding, “A decision was made by the province … and decisions were made by others that this is the time we’re going to start hockey games.” Backlund said the overall pattern shows variety, saying, “Looking at the calendar, looking at the schedule, it looks like it’s a big variety this year.”

Even with more late games, the Flames also have eight afternoon games scheduled for 2:30 p.m. or earlier, compared with five in 2025-26. Hayes said those afternoon starts are an opportunity for families, saying, “We’ve got more afternoon games. That’s going to be exciting for families,” while also suggesting the 9 p.m. Saturday-night matchups could create a different atmosphere. “And then the 9 o’clock games, hopefully that just means, and I’ll couch my words here, a greater party atmosphere, if you will, for a Saturday night 9 o’clock game that happens to be on,” Hayes said.

The Flames’ 9 p.m. starts at the Saddledome include Dec. 26 against the Vancouver Canucks and Jan. 16 against the Los Angeles Kings. Calgary also features a limited number of back-to-back games with the same start time, with the only previous example coming during an Eastern road trip that begins Dec. 10.

Edmonton will have seven games starting at 9 p.m., including Nov. 7 against the Canucks and March 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Place. Oilers defenceman Jake Walman said he expects the late schedule to be more challenging for viewers at home, adding, “I don’t think I’ll notice as much as my family at home watching,” and noting, “They’ll probably be struggling to watch that one.” His teammate Trent Frederic said he will try to shift his routine ahead of late games at Rogers Place, explaining, “Sounds weird, but I’ll try to go to bed a little bit later the night before, probably take a later nap, eat my lunch a little bit later than normal,” and saying, “The naps are big, or at least they are for myself. A lot of times after games, the later games, you’re going to bed late, you’re still wired, so it’s just important to kind of stick with getting the good naps.”

In Manitoba, the province declared Sept. 17—on the same day players hit the ice for NHL training camps—that it would stay on daylight time permanently. The next day, the NHL issued changes to a dozen Winnipeg Jets home games, pushing them back an hour, with no game later than 7:30 p.m. local time. Manitoba will be on the same time as Toronto on Nov. 1, and the Jets’ road slate includes late starts such as a 10 p.m. game Feb. 13 against the Canucks and a 9:30 p.m. start Dec. 2 against the Utah Mammoth.

For the Canucks on the West Coast, road trips include start times such as 4:45 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. A seven-game road trip in late January features five different start times ranging from noon to 6 p.m. Brendan Gallagher said the schedule will require adjustments, telling, “One hundred per cent it’s going to be different,” and adding, “It’s something that we’ve never really been through. Even having an 8 p.m. game to start the season, a little bit different, but we’ll get used to it.” Gallagher said the approach is to plan ahead while maintaining routine once the game begins, stating, “We’ll have plans, and you probably tinker with (it) a little bit, but it’s not going to change too much. Once the puck drops, it’s still hockey and you’ve got a job to do. You try to stick to what your routine is as best you can.”