It will be of little surprise to any Canadian that the NHL is the country’s most popular professional sports league. It’s the national sport after all. In a recent survey with residents in Canada, the league was once again named the top choice, cementing its place as the premier sporting entertainment in the Great White North. In fact, more than 50% of respondents listed the NHL as a league they follow.
Not only has the NHL been named the top pro league, but it is also growing in popularity compared to its competition. In gridiron, the NFL and CFL were leagues of interest for 37% and 32% of respondents, respectively. The MLB sat square in the middle at 34%, too. It is clear that hockey dominates the sports world in Canada.
Particularly interesting are the trends identified for women in Canada. Exactly half of the women surveyed listed themselves as fans of the NHL, while no other sport breached the 30% mark. Hockey is clearly growing in the nation, even despite already being the most popular sport in the country for decades. Investigating the reasons may present some interesting theories.
We now live in a sporting ecosystem where the games themselves are no longer the only draw for fans. Audiences in 2025 have access to a wide range of media associated with their favourite sports, and even often their specific teams. Gaming, in particular, has been a major part of this growth of sports-adjacent media.
In hockey, the NHL series of video games is a best-seller, alongside other sports titles like FC and Madden. Additionally, it is not only console gaming that has embraced hockey and offered fans further ways to connect with the sport. In iGaming, users can find casino slots, such as the Break Away series, that offer casino fans a unique hockey experience.
In addition to gaming, streaming giants like Disney+ have helped grow the popularity of different sports in new markets. The Welcome to Wrexham series, which follows the Welsh club of the same name, now owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has been reported to be driving interest in North American soccer. Given that the World Cup will be held across the continent in 2026, it has helped introduce many to a sport they will embrace next year.
It isn’t only in Canada where the NHL is growing in popularity. In the US, there has been a surge in the popularity of hockey in Florida, largely due to the recent success of the Panthers. The franchise has famously won the last two Stanley Cups against the Oilers and is climbing up the rankings of teams with playoff appearances, now appearing in 10 postseason series.
That has given the Floridians more reasons to engage with their local side in an area where hockey is still relatively new. They are now achieving record attendances, with nearly 20,000 fans attending the games on average. That represents a significant increase from ten years prior, when a little over 11,000 fans attended games in the 2004-2005 season.
It represents a growth that few could have expected and a near doubling of attendance figures for a side that seemed lightyears from becoming an NHL powerhouse. As it stands, the Panthers are on the brink of establishing a dynasty that will be spoken about across the state for years to come, even potentially attracting fans from out of state with their attractive and successful playing style.
The survey didn’t reveal any particularly surprising results regarding the most popular sport in the country. Canada is and will likely always be a hockey nation. Where the US has American football, the UK has soccer, and Australia has cricket, this part of the world likes to take to the ice for its sporting action. It’s been that way for as long as we can remember.
However, with trends towards growth in sports like soccer, it appears that there will be a few vying for its crown. Though the demographic data showing an increase in female viewership would suggest that hockey will retain its top spot for years to come.
Photo: Getty Images
