8 Great Cities to Enjoy NHL Ambience

2026 FIFA World Cup

Published August 25, 2026Updated October 5, 202612 min readEditorial integrity

The best NHL ambience in 2026-2027 is found in Montreal, New York, Edmonton, Winnipeg, the Twin Cities and Salt Lake City, plus Helsinki and Dusseldorf for the league’s four European games. Winnipeg hosts the Heritage Classic on October 25, 2026, and Salt Lake City the Winter Classic on December 31.

Every NHL season, the league’s 32 teams play 82 games each, split between their home arena and the 31 others across Canada and the United States. That spread gives hockey fans plenty of cities to visit if they want to soak up some NHL ambience.

You don’t need a ticket to the game, either. A Canadian-themed pub in Manhattan, a packed sports bar in St. Paul, or a watch party outside the arena can deliver just as much atmosphere for a fraction of the price.

Below are 8 destinations where you can enjoy the hockey atmosphere with fellow fans during the 2026-2027 season, along with how to get there on points. If you’re still shopping for a card to fund the trip, start with our roundup of the best credit cards in Canada.

New York, New York

Our first pick works for more reasons than hockey. New York City is home to the New York Rangers, and the in-arena experience at Madison Square Garden ranks among the loudest in the league.

However, Rangers tickets also sit among the priciest in the NHL. New York Islanders tickets at UBS Arena in Elmont generally cost less, although Elmont sits outside the city and offers far less to do around the rink. For a full breakdown of what a seat actually costs, see our guide on how to get NHL tickets at a good price.

If you’re not heading to the game, head to The Canuck instead. This Canadian-themed sports bar at 202 Ninth Avenue in Chelsea puts NHL games on every screen, poutine on the menu, and Caesars and Canadian beer at the bar.

Under the current NHL format, the Rangers meet the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs three times each per season. Check the schedule before you book, since only some of those meetings land at Madison Square Garden.

For fans coming from Montreal or Toronto, several Canadian airlines fly to New York, including Air Canada, Porter, and WestJet.

Montreal, Quebec

Next on our list is Montreal, Quebec, home of the Montreal Canadiens. Founded in December 1909, the Canadiens are the oldest continuously operating professional hockey club in the world. They also play in the largest arena in the league: the Bell Centre seats 21,105 for hockey.

Finding somewhere to watch the game is easy here. Every sports bar in the city tunes in when the Canadiens play, especially on a rivalry night against Toronto or Boston.

Whether you get inside the Bell Centre or take in the atmosphere elsewhere in town, Montreal belongs on any hockey fan’s list. Furthermore, it’s a winter city with plenty to do between games: the Old Port, shopping on rue Sainte-Catherine, Montreal bagels, poutine, Schwartz’s deli, and a deep local beer scene.

Twin Cities, Minnesota

Back in the United States, Minnesota’s Twin Cities area (St. Paul and Minneapolis) is home to the Minnesota Wild and one of the rowdiest fan bases in the league. The Wild play out of Grand Casino Arena in downtown St. Paul, renamed in September 2025 after 25 years as the Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota has produced more NHL players than any other American state. In total, 311 players born in Minnesota have reached the league, well ahead of second-place Massachusetts at 229. As a result, hockey here is less a pastime than a default setting.

To get started, head to Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub at 258 West 7th Street, around the corner from the arena. Named after the former Minnesota North Stars defenceman, it’s covered in hockey memorabilia and has screens pointing in every direction.

Minneapolis Minnesota bridge and city skyline

Edmonton, Alberta

Back in Canada, the Edmonton Oilers draw one of the loudest home crowds in the league.

In Edmonton, Alberta, the Oilers arena sits inside the ICE District, a downtown block lined with hotels, restaurants, and bars. Because everything is within walking distance, you can join the party when you want it and grab a bite or head back to your room when you don’t.

While you’re in Alberta, you can also head south to catch the Calgary Flames. With a few extra days, the Rocky Mountains are within reach: Banff, Jasper National Park, and the scenery in between.

Bring your skates, too. Edmonton has more than 100 outdoor community rinks, most of them built and maintained by neighbourhood community league volunteers.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba is home to the Winnipeg Jets, and it hosts the biggest outdoor date on the Canadian calendar this season. The Jets face the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Princess Auto Stadium.

This provincial capital is known for its music scene and its cold winters, so pack a real jacket. The Jets play their regular season games at Canada Life Centre downtown, which puts plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the rink.

For something further off the map, you can extend a Manitoba trip north to Churchill for the northern lights and, in season, polar bears.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City hosts the other marquee outdoor game of the season. The 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic takes place on December 31, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus, with the Utah Mammoth facing the Colorado Avalanche. It’s the first outdoor NHL game ever played in Utah.

The Mammoth are only in their third season. The franchise moved from Arizona in 2024, played a first year as Utah Hockey Club, then took the Mammoth name in 2025. Despite being the new team in the league, it has sold out 85 consecutive home games at the Delta Center.

Whether you go for the Winter Classic or for a regular season game, expect a crowd that still treats every night as an occasion. Utah also makes a convenient base: Colorado and Nevada sit close enough to add the Colorado Avalanche or the Vegas Golden Knights to the same trip.

Helsinki, Finland

Our last two picks take you across the Atlantic. During the 2026-2027 season, the NHL plays four regular season games in Europe: two in Finland and two in Germany.

The Finnish leg comes first. The Carolina Hurricanes and the Seattle Kraken meet at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki on November 12 and November 14, 2026.

Helsinki rewards a few extra days. For example, you can visit the Temppeliaukio Church, carved directly into solid rock, book a proper Finnish sauna, and follow it with a cold sea plunge if you’re brave.

Dusseldorf, Germany

The German games follow in December. The Chicago Blackhawks and the Ottawa Senators play in Dusseldorf on December 18 and December 20, 2026, right in the middle of Christmas market season.

Dusseldorf’s Old Town (Altstadt) calls itself the longest bar in the world, with roughly 260 pubs, bars, and restaurants packed into half a square kilometre. Finding somewhere to watch a game, or to celebrate after one, will not be your problem.

Save on NHL Travel with Points

Getting to any of these cities costs less with the right travel credit card and rewards program. If you want a line-by-line look at what a Canadian game night actually costs, we broke it down for a night at a Toronto game.

Read on to learn how to cover the flights and the hotel with points.

Save on Flights with Points

Save with Airline Loyalty Programs

One way to cut the cost of the flight is with airline loyalty programs.

For Canadians heading to the destinations above, we recommend looking at programs like:

Earning enough points for an award flight in any of these programs is fairly easy, thanks to co-branded credit cards like the American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Card, the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard, BMO VIPorter Mastercard^®*, United^® MileagePlus^® Neo World Elite^® Mastercard, and more.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 6 months Up to 45,000 points After $7,500 in 6 months	Apply NowCompare
FeaturedWestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$139	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 3 months Up to 70,000 pointsEnds Nov 18, 2026 After $5,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
BMO VIPorter Mastercard^®* Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$89 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 12 months Up to 40,000 pointsEnds Oct 31, 2026 After $10,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
United^® MileagePlus^® Neo World Elite^® Mastercard Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$89	Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months Up to 20,000 miles After $3,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Plus, many of these airline loyalty programs are transfer partners with accessible rewards programs in Canada like American Express Membership Rewards and RBC Avion Rewards.

With these programs, you can earn with a whole range of Membership Rewards credit cards or RBC Avion Rewards credit cards and then transfer your MR points or RBC Avion Rewards points to some of the airline loyalty programs mentioned.

Additionally, depending on where you’d like to connect and how ambitious your travel plans are, you can build a trip that stops in one city on the way to another by using Aeroplan’s stopover feature, which adds an extra destination on your way to just about any NHL city.

Save with Travel Rewards Programs

Another way to cut the cost of an NHL trip is with a flexible travel points program like TD Rewards, BMO Rewards, or Scotiabank’s Scene+.

For example, you can cover part of the trip with Scene+ points, earned with credit cards like the Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card. Because it charges no foreign transaction fees, it works particularly well for the American and European destinations on this list.

Compare

Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $350
Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card ^+* Card^MC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Legal

* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Savings at Shell

Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 3 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with an eligible Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:

Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power^® gasoline, or V-Power^® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Earn up to 3 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditions for full details including redemption options and additional terms.

Note: Highest value of 10 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

If you’d rather apply for a travel card with better odds of approval at the same income level, the CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card are the two we’d compare it against first.

With your accumulated points, you can book travel through Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia and cover the cost at a rate of 1 Scene+ point = 1 cent.

You can also make eligible travel purchases directly on your Scene+ credit card and apply your points against those travel expenses later, at the same rate. This option is particularly useful on a hockey road trip, since it also offsets train tickets, bus fares, and car rentals.

Plus, it’s easy to earn Scene+ points, and the card carries travel perks that make the trip cheaper and more comfortable. That includes travel insurance coverage, car rental insurance, and free airport lounge access.

Save on Hotels with Points

Flexible travel points like Scene+ points also work well on accommodations, especially since they cover Airbnb stays and small boutique hotels that hotel loyalty points can’t touch.

Now, if you hold Marriott Bonvoy points, Hilton Honors points, or any other hotel loyalty currency, those can cover a night or two during your hockey trip as well.

Also, don’t forget that American Express Membership Rewards transfers to both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. In other words, you can earn Membership Rewards points with an eligible credit card, then move them to your hotel account to cover a few nights in one of the cities above.

Bottom Line

This NHL season will produce plenty of memorable nights, and the best seat is still inside the building. However, if a ticket isn’t in the budget, the atmosphere outside the arena, in a hockey bar, or in a city you’ve never visited holds up well as an alternative.

We hope this list gives you somewhere to start, whether that’s an outdoor game in Winnipeg in October, the Winter Classic in Salt Lake City on New Year’s Eve, or a Christmas market in Germany between two games. If you’re heading abroad, it’s also worth getting an eSIM from a reputable vendor like Holafly, Saily, or Airalo so you can stay connected from just about anywhere.

Finally, bring a travel card that earns on the trip and protects you during it. The four below are the ones we’d shortlist for a hockey road trip. To keep up with the current welcome offers on all of them, subscribe to our newsletter.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite: welcome bonus worth $1,120, and the $120 annual fee is waived the first year. You finish year one about $1,120 ahead.
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite: welcome bonus worth $730, minus the $139 annual fee. About $591 in year one.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite: welcome bonus worth $540, minus the $139 annual fee. About $401 in year one.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +*: welcome bonus worth $350, and the $150 annual fee is waived the first year. On top of that, you stop paying the usual 2.5% on every purchase abroad.

Click on the name of a card to see the full details.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
FeaturedRBC Avion Visa Infinite Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 6 months Up to 70,000 pointsEnds Nov 25, 2026 After $5,000 in 6 months	Apply NowCompare
SponsoredTD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 6 months Up to 160,000 points After $7,500 in 6 months	Apply NowCompare
CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 4 months Up to 60,000 points After $5,000 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare
Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$150	Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026 After $2,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

NHL Ambience – Frequently Asked Questions

The same method works outside hockey. Our guide on how to attend a sporting event with your points applies the mechanics to soccer, Formula 1 and tennis, with the booking windows to watch.

How many teams play in the NHL?

The NHL has 32 teams, split equally across 4 divisions in 2 conferences. Of those 32 teams, 7 play in Canada and 25 play in the United States.

When does the NHL season start and end?

The regular season runs from October to April, after a September pre-season. The playoffs follow and usually end in June.

Where is the NHL Winter Classic this year?

The 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic takes place on December 31, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche in the first outdoor NHL game ever played in Utah.

Where is the 2026 Heritage Classic?

The 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic is set for Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Jets host the Montreal Canadiens.

Where are the NHL international games this year?

The NHL has scheduled 4 games in Europe during the 2026-2027 season. The Carolina Hurricanes and the Seattle Kraken play in Helsinki on November 12 and 14, 2026, and the Chicago Blackhawks and the Ottawa Senators play in Dusseldorf on December 18 and 20, 2026.

Which NHL arena is the biggest?

The Bell Centre in Montreal is the largest arena in the NHL, with 21,105 seats for hockey. It has been the home of the Montreal Canadiens since 1996.

Can I pay for NHL travel with points?

Yes. Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, VIPorter, and United MileagePlus cover the flight, while flexible currencies like Scene+, TD Rewards, and BMO Rewards apply against travel purchases you have already made, including hotels, trains, and car rentals.

Which credit card is best for an NHL road trip?

It depends on where you’re going. For games in the United States or Europe, a card with no foreign transaction fees, like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, saves 2.5% on every purchase abroad. For Canadian games, a card that earns transferable points, such as the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card or the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card, gives you more ways to book the flight.

Our featured card