Permanent daylight time brings quirky NHL start times to Western Canada

The National Hockey League (NHL) is set to begin its season with altered start times in Western Canada due to three provinces opting to remain on daylight saving time rather than switch back to standard time. This decision affects Alberta's Edmonton Oilers, Manitoba's Winnipeg Jets, and British Columbia's Vancouver Canucks.

The change means that games in these cities will start at 9 p.m. local time, rather than the usual 8 p.m. start. Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund joked that his team will need to rely on caffeine to stay alert during these late-night games. Edmonton's Jake Walman and Trent Frederic have also expressed concerns about having family members available to watch their games at such late hours.

Manitoba made its decision on September 17, just days before the NHL's training camps commenced. The NHL subsequently adjusted the schedules of 12 Winnipeg Jets home games, pushing them back by an hour. The Canucks, meanwhile, face some unusual scheduling, including five different start times ranging from noon to 6 p.m. in a single month.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman joked that the league was not consulted about the time zone changes, but emphasized that the team will adapt as they always do when faced with unexpected circumstances.