Permanent daylight time brings quirky NHL start times to Western Canada

Hockey fans in Western Canada may need to stay up late to catch their favorite teams, due to three Canadian provinces choosing to remain on daylight saving time. Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia did not revert clocks back in November and advanced them ahead in March, disrupting the NHL's previously scheduled game times. "It’s out of our control," Calgary president and chief executive officer Robert Hayes told The Canadian Press.

"We can’t control that." The Flames will start eight games at 9 p.m. local time, including two at home on December 26 and January 16. Calgary captain Mikael Backlund joked, "There’s caffeine out there." Forward Trent Frederic admitted he will need to adjust his sleep routine. "The naps are big, or at least they are for myself," Frederic said.

"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." Manitoba's decision was announced on September 17, the day players began NHL training camps. The NHL subsequently adjusted 12 Winnipeg Jets home games, moving them back an hour, but none past 7:30 p.m. local time.

Winnipeg will align with Toronto’s time on November 1. Vancouver Canucks have an even more unpredictable schedule, with a January game scheduled for 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "We’ll deal with it," when asked about the impact of the time zone changes on the league.