Michael December 19, 2025  40

2026 Nzihl Season Schedule Released

The New Zealand Ice Hockey League is excited to announce the official schedule for the 2026 season, that will run from early May through to late July, with the playoffs taking place in August.

The 2025 NZIHL season marked a significant step forward for the league, with packed arenas, increased livestream viewership and digital engagement, and a noticeable rise in the number of young players making meaningful contributions at the top domestic level. Competitive balance across the league continued to improve, creating compelling matchups week after week, reinforcing the NZIHL’s role in developing New Zealand’s elite players.

Ice Hockey New Zealand is finalising a new separate competition format for 2026 that will act as a development pathway, designed to significantly expand competitive opportunities for emerging players as they transition from youth leagues into the NZIHL. This new competition will see changes to the Auckland Mako’s participation in the NZIHL, with more information to be announced in the New Year.

NZIHL General Manager Paris Heyd said the continued evolution of the league is driven by both performance outcomes and ensuring a long-term sustainable vision.

“The growth we saw in 2025 was a clear signal that ice hockey in New Zealand is moving in the right direction,” said Heyd. “As the league continues to mature, it is critical that we evolve to continue providing appropriate development pathways for the next generation of athletes. We will shortly be announcing a new competition that allows us to do that at scale, ensuring more players gain the competitive experience needed to transition successfully into NZIHL environments and beyond.”

Fans can stay up to date throughout the off season for roster announcements and ticketing updates on official team websites:

The full 2026 NZIHL season schedule is now live at https://www.nzihl.com/schedule