Most Popular Hockey Leagues to Bet On

If you’re already familiar with betting on hockey, the chances are that you’ve wagered on the NHL. However, there are many other exciting ice hockey leagues to bet on, with dozens of high-profile competitions across the world. Here are the most popular hockey leagues from a betting perspective.

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NHL

The National Hockey League (NHL) is the undisputed pinnacle of ice hockey. With 25 teams from the United States and seven teams from Canada making up the 32-team league, the NHL is considered to be the world’s top-ranked professional hockey competition.

Founded all the way back in 1917, the NHL attracts the very best players from across the globe. Accordingly, the NHL is also the most popular hockey league to bet on, with sportsbooks providing a seemingly endless number of NHL betting markets all year round.

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AHL

The American Hockey League (AHL) is another professional hockey league in the United States and Canada. Serving as the primary development league for the NHL, the AHL is renowned for producing some of the best hockey players on the planet.

Every team in the AHL has an affiliation agreement with an NHL team, meaning the two competitions are closely linked. Thanks to the popularity of the AHL, bookmakers always dish up plenty of AHL betting opportunities to take advantage of.

College Hockey

Although college hockey is played mainly in the United States and Canada, there are other college leagues outside of North America. With multiple leagues and competitions taking place around the world, there is never a shortage of college hockey betting options.

In the US, competitive college hockey is governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In Canada, however, college hockey refers to community college and small college hockey, with a varsity conference and a club league dishing up even more betting opportunities.

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KHL

Outside of North America, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is one of the best hockey leagues to bet on. The 22-team competition is dominated by Russian teams, although teams from Belarus, Kazakhstan and China have also competed since the league’s inception in 2008.

Just like the NHL and other popular hockey leagues, the KHL produces numerous betting options. You can wager on moneylines, spreads, totals, futures, props and various other markets, courtesy of the leading online hockey sportsbooks.

SHL

The Swedish Hockey League (SHL) is widely regarded as one of the most prominent hockey leagues in Europe, with many of the continent’s top players based in the league. Found in 1975, the SHL contains 14 teams and uses the familiar playoff format to determine the champion each season.

The top teams in the SHL also compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) annual tournament, Champions Hockey League (CHL). This is another exciting hockey league to bet on, as it brings together the best teams from across the continent.