🏒 How can I watch Hockey with Virgin Plus TV?

[RonMexicoo]

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with Virgin TV's NHL coverage.

I scroll through the programming guide and see NHL games advertised. I tune in, only to be greeted with the dreaded message: BLACKOUT IN EFFECT!

And it isn't just one team. It seems that most of the Canadian NHL games are blacked out.

I'm a Canadian hockey fan. I'm a Montreal Canadiens fan, but I also enjoy watching other Canadian teams. I'd much rather watch Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa or Winnipeg playing hockey than have to settle for American matchups.

Here's my question: Why are so many Canadian NHL games unavailable to Canadian viewers?

I understand broadcasting rights and regional restrictions, but when you're paying for television service and can't watch the games being advertised in your programming guide, something isn't right.

Are we supposed to subscribe to three or four different services just to watch Canadian hockey?

This is getting ridiculous. It feels like fans are being squeezed for more money just to watch the game they already pay to have access to.

Virgin TV, can someone please explain why Canadian hockey fans are having such a hard time watching Canadian hockey in Canada?

[VirginPlusPatricia · Accepted solution]

Hey @RonMexicoo  Thank you for posting 🙂

For full details on how to watch NHL Hockey this season check out  NHL Hockey viewing for 2026/2027 season

Rogers has unfortunately made watching hockey much more difficult for Canadians. This means you may need additional subscriptions to catch all your favorite matchups.

Sportsnet will also be home to the following:

• Saturday Night Hockey (previously known as ‘Hockey Night in Canada on CBC’)
• Heritage Classic
• Winter Classic
• All-Star Weekend
• Stadium Series
• Full Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage except for three early-round series and one Second Round series airing exclusively on Prime Video
• Sportsnet+ will air Monday Night Hockey
• Prime Video will air Wednesday Night Hockey

*All scheduling is subject to change at the discretion of Rogers Communications

With Virgin Plus, you can watch world-class hockey from the NHL, the IIHF World Juniors, and much more.

• TSN airs up to 177 select Leafs, Habs, Senators and Jets regular season games*
• Sportsnet airs select Leafs, Canucks, Oilers & Flames games on Sportsnet*
• RDS (French broadcast) airs over 90 select Habs and Senators regular Season games*
• TVA (French broadcast) airs up to ~260 NHL games per season*
• NHL Centre Ice^TM will continue to air up to ~750 out of market regular season NHL games (regional blackouts apply; in-market games require the applicable Sportsnet, TSN or RDS channel.)

*Regional Blackouts apply

@VirginPlusPatricia