The NHL's Golden Opportunity: How Roller Hockey Can Be the Key to Long-Term Growth

by Stephen Cabral

The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off was a massive success, bringing a best-on-best international showdown into the spotlight. With Team Canada's thrilling overtime victory over the United States and stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon stealing the show, Hockey has captured the attention of a global audience once again, bringing in 20 Million + viewers across North America alone. Although there's no arguing the eyes brought to the sport, that doesn't take away from the biggest issue surrounding the sport we love: COST! Winnipeg Jets Goalie Eric Comrie had an insightful answer when asked about the event, stating, "I think it was unbelievable for the game of Hockey. If I think about growing the game, it's a hard game to grow. In the sense that, unfortunately, it's a very expensive game to play for kids, and it shouldn't be,"- Sportsnet. The Olympics in 2026 and the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 will bring even more eyes to our sport. The NHL must capitalize by supporting grassroots facilities and programs, not in the future, but now. "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.". If we wait till 2028, it's too late. We need more kids playing Hockey today!

The Roller Hockey Connection to NHL Stars

Many of today's NHL superstars grew up playing Roller Hockey and training on rollerblades, which helped shape their creativity, hands, and vision. Team Canada's Brandon Hagel honed his skills on wheels, while Team USA's Kyle Connor, Adam Fox, and Dylan Larkin spent time developing their game in Roller Hockey leagues and tournaments like NARCh and State Wars. Beyond North America, players like Filip Forsberg use Roller Hockey as a key part of their offseason training. Let's not forget some of the biggest names in the game—Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, and even Connor McDavid—who spend time on wheels in the off-season. Matthews, in particular,  has a Marsblade signature Roller Hockey Skate. Other players such as Connor Bedard,  Dylan Strome,  Patrick Maroon,  Kent Johnson,  Henrik Lundqvist,  Paul Statsny,  Alex DeBrincat and many more grew up playing and credited much of their game to Roller Hockey.

The NHL Needs to Invest in Grassroots Roller Hockey

While some NHL teams, such as the Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, and Washington Capitals, have built community Roller Hockey rinks in their home cities, the league and many other teams have failed to embrace Roller Hockey as a legitimate development tool. If the NHL truly wants to grow the game at the grassroots level, now is the time.

Here's how the NHL can capitalize on the current wave of hockey interest:

  1. Expand Community Rink Programs: More teams should follow the lead of the Ducks, Rangers, and Capitals by building outdoor and indoor Roller Hockey rinks in underserved areas. These facilities provide affordable, accessible entry points into the sport.
  2. Roller Hockey Development Camps: Partnering with major Roller Hockey organizations to host summer camps and training programs would introduce young athletes to the game in a fun, cost-effective way.
  3. Roller to Ice Pipeline: The NHL can formalize a development path that encourages kids who start in Roller Hockey to transition into ice hockey if they choose to pursue it competitively.
  4. Leveraging NHL Stars for Promotion: Players like Matthews, Bedard, McDavid, DeBrincat, Larkin, and Forsberg, to name a few, could help encourage Roller Hockey through social media, NHL-led initiatives, and special events showcasing their experiences with the sport.

The Time to Act Is Now

The 4 Nations Face-Off brought Hockey back into the global spotlight, and we cannot afford to let this momentum fade. Investing in Roller Hockey at the grassroots level ensures that more kids pick up a stick and fall in love with the game, regardless of whether there's ice nearby. If we truly want to expand the reach of Hockey and increase participation, the answer is clear: embrace Roller Hockey, build more accessible rinks, and bring awareness to the ongoing partnership between the sports that has already produced household names. We at Canadian Rollerhockey Group see the potential for this sport and have been pushing the benefits of Roller Hockey as a partner, alternative, and so much more,

The moment is here. Join Us. Roll With Us, Change Everything,