Report: Mexico City wants to host an NHL pre-season game

While many squads are still jockeying for playoff positions, the Canucks, Canadiens and Senators were happy to help foil the plans of a few teams heading to the post-season.

According to Mexican news agency Notimex Mexico City sports and government officials are looking “to bring NHL games to the city.”

Mexican Ice Hockey Federation (FDMHSH) President Joaquin de la Garma has reportedly had two meetings with NHL executives about hosting games next pre-season.

The most likely venue would be Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes, which has a capacity of over 20,000, though an ice rink would have to be installed.

Should the Palacio not be available due to sponsorship reasons, the city would look at convention centres as possible arenas.

De la Garma said that the most popular NHL teams in Mexico are the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, “but added that it would be the NHL that would decide which teams would play.”

He also mentioned that Mexico City would like to host “two games, one on Friday night and the other on Sunday at noon.”

The 2015 NHL pre-season included no games outside of Canada and the United States, but the league has scheduled games throughout Europe in the past.

According to the International Ice Hockey Federation’s most recent survey, there are 2,020 registered hockey players in Mexico.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.