On September 30, Lausanne HC took on the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason exhibition game. The game may have started as a friendly, but it soon took on much more significance as Lausanne HC jumped out to a 4-0 lead. The Flyers battled back and closed the gap to 4-3, in what became an international classic. The defeat marked the first loss in Flyers’ history to a club outside the NHL.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”6298″ img_size=”

The spotlight was as hot as the Texas sun during the NHL Draft. The first round of the draft, held in Dallas this year, showcased the strength of the international game. For the first time in 19 years, the top three picks were all born outside North America. The growth of European talent is immensely significant for the growth of the game; however, it is not widely known that European players are treated differently under the Collective Bargaining Agreement from their North A

Thus far the NHL has played 29 regular season games overseas. These games generate substantial interest and excitement. The average attendance in these games is 13,339 per game and a total attendance of 386,818. In 2012 the NHL and NHLPA agreed to work together on international projects. Since 2012 the NHL has seen approximately 25 percent of their players come from Europe and Russia. The Global Series helps maintain and grow this percentage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_