USA / CANADA: NHL

August
4 - Last day for salary arbitration hearings.

September
14 - Exhibition game schedule begins
30 - Exhibition schedule ends

October
1 - 2009-10 NHL season opens
2-3 - Four games in Europe as part of the opening of the 2009-10 NHL regular season. Detroit Red Wings play the St. Louis Blues in Stockholm, and Chicago Blackhawks play the Florida Panthers in Helsinki.

November
7 - Annual Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Toronto: Maple Leafs versus Red Wings
9 - Steve Yzerman, Brian Leetch, Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull and Lou Lamoriello inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

December
26 - World Junior Hockey Championship begins in Regina/Saskatoon, Canada.

January
1 - NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston: Bruins versus Philadelphia Flyers.
5 - Gold medal game at World Junior Hockey Championship.
23 - Minnesota Wild host Columbus Blue Jackets as part of annual Hockey Day in Minnesota celebrations.
30 - Hockey Day in Canada celebrations include Montreal at Ottawa, Vancouver at Toronto, and Edmonton at Calgary.

February
13 - Olympic women's hockey tournament opens in Vancouver.
14- Final games before NHL begins Olympic break.
16 - Olympic men's hockey tournament opens in Vancouver.
25 - Gold Medal Game at womens's Olympic Hockey tournament.
28 - Gold Medal Game at mens's Olympic Hockey tournament.

March
1 - NHL season resumes.
3 - 2009-10 NHL trade deadline.

April
11 - NHL regular season ends.
14 - Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.

May
7 - IIHF World Men's Hockey Championship begins in Germany.
23 - Gold medal game at IIHF World Men's Hockey Championship.