The National Hockey League is heading back to Finland, announcing two regular-season games in Helsinki for the first time since 2018.
The matchups—featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and the Seattle Kraken—will be played on November 12 and November 14 at the Veikkaus Arena, a 15,500-capacity venue that has previously hosted NHL games and was recently reopened after years of closure.
This marks a significant moment for both the league and the teams. It will be the first time the Kraken play a regular-season game outside North America, while the Hurricanes return to a familiar international stage, having previously played in Finland in 2010.
The NHL continues to expand its global footprint, with the 2026–27 season featuring multiple European games. Earlier announcements confirmed games in Düsseldorf involving the Ottawa Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks, further emphasizing the league’s international strategy.
Helsinki itself is a key hockey market, and the roster connections deepen the story. The Hurricanes feature Finnish stars Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, while the Kraken include Finnish players Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko—adding a strong local connection for fans.
The return of NHL action to Finland also highlights the resurgence of the Veikkaus Arena, which has gone through ownership changes, sanctions-related shutdowns, and a full operational reset before reopening and re-establishing itself as a premier global events venue.
With this move, the NHL continues to blend sport and global business strategy—bringing marquee matchups to international markets while strengthening its presence in hockey hotbeds like Finland.