Hockey fans will see the NHL Unites Pride Cup come to New York during All-Star Weekend, bringing LGBTQ+ players and communities into the league's biggest spotlight. The February tournament will feature teams from New York City and Albany, alongside free hockey activities and a public celebration. Venues and schedules are still to come, but the event's growth tells its own story.
The NHL Pride Cup heads to New York
Two New York-area teams will meet at the fourth annual NHL Unites Pride Cup from 4 to 7 February 2027. The New York City Pride Hockey Alliance and Albany Pride Hockey Association are set to take part, with the NHL organising the event alongside Pride Tape. [2]
All-Star Weekend runs from 5 to 7 February at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders, but the league hasn't confirmed where the Pride Cup games will be played. A Try Hockey For Free event and a public party are also planned, with locations, times and other details due later. [2], [3]
That leaves fans with a date and a destination, but not yet a full itinerary. Still, the pairing of community hockey with an All-Star showcase gives the tournament a particularly visible stage. [2], [3]
From one ball hockey game to a growing tournament
The first Pride Cup was a ball hockey game at the 2024 NHL Fan Fest in Toronto. Team White won 6-2, and the Toronto Gay Hockey Association received the trophy and a $25,000 cheque. [4]
A year later, the event moved onto the ice at the Boston Bruins' practice facility during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Team White edged the Boston Pride Hockey Association 5-4, continuing the tournament's shift from a one-off showcase towards a more established part of the hockey calendar. [5]
In 2026, Vancouver's The Cutting Edges and the Seattle Pride Hockey Association played a three-game series in Surrey, British Columbia, with $25,000 awarded to each club. New York marks another change in format and location, as the event joins the wider All-Star Weekend programme. [6]
What the two New York teams bring
The New York City Pride Hockey Alliance has teams at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers and the LeFrak Center at Prospect Park. Its focus extends beyond competition: the alliance says it has spent 25 years creating a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ players and allies. [2]
Albany Pride Hockey Association has served its community since 2005. For players who haven't always found an easy route into the sport, clubs like these offer something more lasting than a weekend of games: teammates, regular ice time and a place to belong. [2]
A useful guide for fans planning ahead
For now, it's worth treating the announced dates as the starting point rather than a complete travel plan. The NHL has yet to confirm Pride Cup venues, game times, community partners or opening-party details, so fans should wait for the schedule before booking around particular matches. [2], [3]
If you're new to the event, keep an eye out for the Try Hockey For Free session as well as the games. It's a chance to see the community side of the tournament up close, and perhaps discover that hockey looks rather different when the welcome is as much the point as the score. [2]
Why the Pride Cup still matters
The tournament's place in the league calendar carries extra weight after the NHL's 2023 restrictions on themed warm-up jerseys and Pride Tape. Following player and public debate, the league later said players could voluntarily use tape representing social causes during the season. [7]
The Pride Cup offers a more direct way to bring LGBTQ+ hockey communities into view, through players taking the ice together and events designed for local fans. As the tournament moves to New York, its growing profile is a reminder that visibility in sport isn't just about a moment on the scoreboard; it's also about who gets to feel at home in the rink. [2], [4], [6], [7]
The schedule is still to come, but the New York Pride Cup already has a clear purpose: making room for more people in hockey.
Source Reference Map
Story idea inspired by: [1]
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