A few years ago things looked pretty bleak for the NHL. A huge lockout caused an already waning public interest in the sport to all but completely die. The NHL lost a lot of television time and ticket revenue. But now, the NHL is resurging and (re)grabbing the interest of America and along with that, the rest of the world.

Last season the NHL used London as a test market for European interest. Results were fantastic. The two games held in London (matches between the L.A. Kings and Anaheim Ducks) were played in front of sellout crowds; pretty much just the shot in the arm that the NHL needed at that point.

With a great spike in interest not only in America but overseas the NHL plans to hold two more events in Europe this season. On October 4th and 5th, the NHL will host 2 games in Stockholm and 2 games in Prague. At Stockholm’s Globe Arena the Ottawa Senators will face the Pittsburgh Penguins while across the way the New York Rangers face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Prague’s O2 Arena. Without any advertising outside of word-of-mouth, tickets have already sold out.

The NHL is back.