Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s also one of the most challenging sports to follow on TV. There are always multiple games going on at once, and the puck is always moving. It’s a lot to keep up with.
But where does all of this action take place? Is it just the NHL that’s relevant? What about the AHL and WHL? Are there even tiers of accomplishment within minor hockey? Are there certain locations more favorable for scoring goals?
The short answer to all of these questions is: No, there is no set place for high-scoring games in hockey. However, there are a few areas of the country where the puck seems to be going in more frequently than others. Below, find the 10 best and the 10 worst states for hockey based on where the most goals are scored each year.
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Top 10 States For Hockey
This country loves its sports, and hockey is one of the most popular sports in the U.S., especially among men. The National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier professional league in the country, and nearly all of the games during the regular season are played in the U.S. Therefore, it’s not a big surprise that hockey is most frequently scored in the U.S.
The data for this article came from Extra Stats, which collects and analyzes baseball, basketball, and hockey data. The list below includes the top 10 states for hockey based on average goals per game during the 2018-19 regular season. The list is based on the size of the population, with the population of New York being used as the reference point.
1. New York
With an average of 3.38 goals per game, New York is the home of the NHL and the international headquarters of the sport. Interestingly, the next closest state to New York is Michigan, with an average of 2.81 goals per game. That’s pretty close, and it makes sense. Many great hockey players have come from Michigan, including former Toronto Maple Leaf great Mike Emrick and current Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou. You’ll notice that the vast majority of the players who call New York home also call Michigan home as well, which might explain the relationship between those two states.
2. Pennsylvania
Moving into the second spot on our list is Pennsylvania, which has an average of 3.23 goals per game during the regular season. Despite the fact that the NHL is headquartered in the city of Toronto, Ontario, most of the games are played in the northern part of the state. The majority of the state’s population also lives in the northern part of the state, which might have something to do with it as well.
3. Massachusetts
Third on our list is Massachusetts, which has an average of 3.15 goals per game during the regular season. The Bay State is known for its outstanding universities and talented sports teams, with the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics being the most prominent ones. While New York and Pennsylvania have the upper hand when it comes to having the most NHL players, Massachusetts is currently home to the greatest number of hockey players in the country, with over 600 registered in the state. According to Extra Stats, there are currently 549 males and 572 females who play hockey in Massachusetts.
One of the reasons why Massachusetts is so good at hosting hockey players is because of Boston University (BU). The school is home to the sport, with many of its alumni going on to play in the NHL. Boston University was also the original school that created the game of hockey. In 1785, the first hockey game was played at the Old Westministrate (now BU) in America. The students started the game by chasing after a puck that one of their students had thrown into the air. Since then, the schools have been rivaled in hockey, with their games frequently going into double overtime. It’s no surprise that BU was also the first university to offer a degree in physical therapy, which focuses on injuries from playing hockey.
4. Ohio
Fourth on our list is Ohio, which has an average of 2.97 goals per game during the regular season. As with the other states on our list, most of the action for hockey takes place in the northern part of the state. The southern part of the state doesn’t get a lot of snow and cold weather, so it isn’t the best place for hockey either. But the northern part of the state is magnificent during the winter, and it’s not difficult to see why so many great hockey players come from there.
5. New Jersey
Fifth on our list is New Jersey, which has an average of 2.93 goals per game. During the regular season, most of the action for hockey takes place in the northern part of the state. But the Garden State is also home to a couple of professional hockey teams, one of which plays in the AHL. The state’s biggest rink, the Izod Center, is also one of the best in the country, having hosted the 1991, 1993, and 1994 NHL All-Star Games. It’s not just the rinks that draw hockey fans to New Jersey, as the state is home to a lot of talented hockey players as well. It was also the birthplace of hockey superstar Gretzky. He grew up in Southern New Jersey and attended nearby High School in Stratford. Later on, he would go on to attend the University of New Jersey (UNJ) and play on the school’s ice hockey team. In addition to being the birthplace of hockey’s greatest player, New Jersey is also the home of Wayne Gretzky Arena—a wonderful venue named after the great hockey player and UNJ alum. It’s a wonderful hockey town, and the fans there love their hockey.
6. California
Moving into the sixth spot on our list is California, which has an average of 2.87 goals per game during the regular season. The western part of the state is famous for its beautiful scenery and sunny weather. The southern part of the state, however, does get a lot of rain, which isn’t the best for ice hockey. The Golden State is also the home of the Golden State Warriors, who recently won their second NBA Championship in three years. The Bay Area is also home to many talented hockey players and fans. The Sharks are another professional hockey team that calls the state home, with their arena, the SAP Center, holding 12,000 fans. It’s no wonder that hockey is such a popular sport in California, with beautiful skylines, gorgeous weather, and talented athletes creating the perfect atmosphere for the sport.
7. Connecticut
In the seventh spot on our list is Connecticut, which has an average of 2.77 goals per game. As with the other states on our list, most of the action for hockey takes place in the northern part of the state. The southern part of the state, though, doesn’t get a whole lot of snow and cold weather, so it isn’t the best place for hockey either. The state is also home to the Connecticut Whale, a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The Whale are usually seen as the farm team for the New York Islanders, and it’s a great way to promote the sport in the region. The Islanders, who are one of the most popular teams in the NHL, also have an affiliate team in Bridgeport. In addition to professional hockey, the state is also home to numerous college hockey programs, including the University of Connecticut (UConn) and the New Britain Ice Dogs, a Tier II team in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League (ECHL). UConn has one of the most beautiful ice rinks in the country, and it’s no wonder that hockey is popular there. The large number of Division I hockey programs in the state means there’s always someone to watch and play hockey.
8. Michigan
In the eighth spot on our list is Michigan, which has an average of 2.75 goals per game during the regular season. The Wolverine State is another birthplace of hockey, with its Ann Arbor drawing talent to the school. The town is also home to the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines men’s hockey team. The biggest rivalry in hockey between the two schools is the annual Game of the Century, with tens of thousands of fans attending. It’s the longest-running game in college hockey history, with the rivalry continuing even today. While the vast majority of the fan base comes from the U.S., the team also has extensive fan bases in Canada and around the world. The fans there are crazy and support their team enthusiastically.