Hockey fans can now be excited for January...hockey is back!

On Sunday, December 20th, the National Hockey League announced an agreement with the National Hockey League Players' Association and that means we will see some hockey action next month. Teams will gear up and get ready for a 56-game season for 2020/2021 and it will all begin on January 13th and end on May 8th.

This year will look a little different as there will be no preseason games. Formal training camps will start on January 3rd for most teams, however, the seven teams that did not participate in the 2019-2020 Return to Play can begin training on December 31st.

The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season, especially since the Return to Play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning a Stanley Cup champion...While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and the communities in which we live and play. And, as was the case last spring and summer, I thank the NHLPA, particularly Executive Director Don Fehr, for working cooperatively with us to get our League back on the ice...said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

The Detroit Red Wings, who are in the newly realigned Central Division will play each of the other teams in that division 8 times this season. The top four teams from each of the newly realigned divisions will qualify for the playoffs. The other teams in the Central Division include the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

For more details on the season, click here. 

Source: NHL

 

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