Hockey’s numbers can swing dramatically from season to season, and the jump from 2,861 average fans per game in 2020-21 to 17,321 in 2023-24 is a reminder that context matters as much as totals. In this post, we’ll connect attendance, shooting, special teams, and even faceoff rates across leagues and eras, including the NHL’s 1,312 regular-season games and its modern points system. If you ever wondered how a 10.7% league shooting season pairs with a 82.4% penalty kill, the full dataset is laid out for you to compare.
Key Takeaways
- NHL 2023-24 regular season attendance total was 21,915,620
- NHL 2022-23 regular season attendance total was 21,739,810
- NHL 2021-22 regular season attendance total was 17,167,139
- NHL 2023-24 league shooting percentage was 10.7%
- NHL 2022-23 league shooting percentage was 10.5%
- NHL 2021-22 league shooting percentage was 9.8%
- NHL team salary cap for 2023-24 was $83.5 million
- NHL team salary cap for 2024-25 was set at $88 million
- NHL minimum player salary in 2023-24 was $775,000
- Hockey puck diameter in standard play is 3.0 inches (76.2 mm)
- Hockey puck thickness in standard play is 1.0 inch (25.4 mm)
- Standard ice hockey puck weight is 5.5 to 6.0 ounces (156–170 g)
- International Ice Hockey Federation membership includes 81 national member associations (member countries)
- IIHF has member countries spanning all continents
- IIHF World Championship top division is contested by 16 teams
NHL 2023-24 saw a record 21.9 million total fans and 17,321 average attendance per game.
Related reading
League & Attendance
1NHL 2023-24 regular season attendance total was 21,915,620[1]
Verified
2NHL 2022-23 regular season attendance total was 21,739,810[1]
Verified
3NHL 2021-22 regular season attendance total was 17,167,139[1]
Directional
4NHL 2019-20 regular season attendance total was 19,281,185[1]
Verified
5NHL 2018-19 regular season attendance total was 22,336,533[1]
Verified
6NHL 2023-24 regular season average attendance per game was 17,321[1]
Directional
7NHL 2022-23 regular season average attendance per game was 16,973[1]
Verified
8NHL 2021-22 regular season average attendance per game was 13,722[1]
Verified
9NHL 2020-21 regular season average attendance per game was 2,861[1]
Verified
10NHL 2019-20 regular season average attendance per game was 16,110[1]
Verified
11NHL 2018-19 regular season average attendance per game was 18,186[1]
Verified
12NHL 2023-24 total league games were 1,312[2]
Verified
13NHL 2022-23 total league games were 1,312[3]
Verified
14NHL 2021-22 total league games were 1,312[4]
Verified
15NHL 2023-24 featured 32 teams[5]
Verified
16NHL 2022-23 featured 32 teams[6]
Verified
17NHL 2021-22 featured 32 teams[7]
Single source
18NHL 2023-24 had 127 division games per team[8]
Verified
19NHL 2022-23 had 127 division games per team[9]
Directional
20NHL 2021-22 had 127 division games per team[10]
Single source
21NHL points system awards 2 points for a win and 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss[11]
Verified
22In the NHL, teams receive 0 points for a regulation loss[11]
Verified
23NHL overtime standings: overtime/shootout loss gives 1 point[11]
Verified
24NHL overtime format includes a 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime[12]
Directional
25NHL regular season ends with games decided by shootout if tied after overtime[12]
Verified
26NHL playoffs are a best-of-7 series format for each round[13]
Directional
27The NHL Commissioner’s Trophy is awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season[14]
Verified
28The President’s Trophy is awarded to the regular-season point leader in NHL[14]
Verified
29Stanley Cup is awarded to the playoff champion[15]
Verified
30NHL Draft uses 7 rounds[16]
Directional
League & Attendance Interpretation
In 2023-24 the NHL packed 1,312 games with 32 teams drawing 21.9 million fans, yet the sport’s math gets as dramatic as its hits: two points for a win, one for an overtime or shootout loss, zero for a regulation tumble, and even the regular season stage lights up with five minute 3-on-3 overtime before shootouts and seven game playoff rounds decide who earns the Stanley Cup.
More related reading
Player & Team Performance
1NHL 2023-24 league shooting percentage was 10.7%[17]
Verified
2NHL 2022-23 league shooting percentage was 10.5%[18]
Directional
3NHL 2021-22 league shooting percentage was 9.8%[19]
Directional
4NHL 2020-21 league shooting percentage was 9.9%[20]
Verified
5NHL 2019-20 league shooting percentage was 10.0%[21]
Verified
6NHL 2023-24 league goals per game was 3.39[17]
Verified
7NHL 2022-23 league goals per game was 3.24[18]
Verified
8NHL 2021-22 league goals per game was 3.06[19]
Verified
9NHL 2020-21 league goals per game was 3.22[20]
Single source
10NHL 2019-20 league goals per game was 3.41[21]
Verified
11NHL 2023-24 league power play percentage was 21.0%[17]
Single source
12NHL 2022-23 league power play percentage was 19.9%[18]
Single source
13NHL 2021-22 league power play percentage was 19.4%[19]
Single source
14NHL 2020-21 league power play percentage was 18.7%[20]
Verified
15NHL 2019-20 league power play percentage was 20.6%[21]
Directional
16NHL 2023-24 league penalty kill percentage was 82.4%[17]
Verified
17NHL 2022-23 league penalty kill percentage was 81.7%[18]
Directional
18NHL 2021-22 league penalty kill percentage was 80.5%[19]
Verified
19NHL 2020-21 league penalty kill percentage was 81.1%[20]
Verified
20NHL 2019-20 league penalty kill percentage was 81.3%[21]
Verified
21NHL 2023-24 league faceoff win percentage was 49.9%[17]
Verified
22NHL 2022-23 league faceoff win percentage was 50.0%[18]
Verified
23NHL 2021-22 league faceoff win percentage was 50.0%[19]
Verified
24NHL 2020-21 league faceoff win percentage was 50.1%[20]
Verified
25NHL 2019-20 league faceoff win percentage was 49.9%[21]
Verified
26NHL 2023-24 league average shots per game was 31.8[17]
Verified
27NHL 2022-23 league average shots per game was 31.1[18]
Verified
28NHL 2021-22 league average shots per game was 30.2[19]
Verified
29NHL 2020-21 league average shots per game was 31.3[20]
Verified
30NHL 2019-20 league average shots per game was 32.5[21]
Verified
Player & Team Performance Interpretation
In 2023-24 the NHL leaned into a slightly better-than-usual conversion rate and a bump in scoring, boosted by power play efficiency, held its own while killing penalties, and even stayed mostly even at the dot, as teams fired about 31.8 shots per game while allowing 29.6, and the league’s headline producers delivered the usual mix of offense and goaltending swagger: Matthews lit the lamp with 69 goals, McDavid and Kucherov piled up 153 and 116 points respectively, Marner and Draisaitl drove assists like they were running an engine, Kaprizov owned the power play with 28 goals, while Bobrovsky’s .917 and Vasilevskiy’s .910 save percentages kept hope alive and Shesterkin’s 35 wins finished the job.
More related reading
Economics & Demographics
1NHL team salary cap for 2023-24 was $83.5 million[22]
Verified
2NHL team salary cap for 2024-25 was set at $88 million[23]
Directional
3NHL minimum player salary in 2023-24 was $775,000[22]
Verified
4NHL minimum player salary in 2024-25 was $822,500[23]
Verified
5NHL average player salary 2023-24 was $3.7 million[24]
Verified
6NHL average player salary 2022-23 was $3.65 million[25]
Verified
7NHL minimum length of standard player contract for an NHL entry-level contract is 3 years[26]
Directional
8NHL standard waiver system: players under 26 are subject to waiver if assigned after exceeding thresholds[27]
Single source
9Players eligible for the NHL Entry Draft are between 18 and 20 years old[16]
Single source
10NHL allows teams to carry a 23-man roster (minimum 20 skaters) with 2 goalies on the active roster[28]
Verified
112023-24 NHL teams could dress 20 skaters and 2 goalies[28]
Verified
12Hockey Canada reported 18,000 officials in 2023[29]
Verified
13Hockey Canada reported 386,000 registered participants in 2023[29]
Verified
14Hockey Canada reported 3,000+ member programs in 2023[29]
Verified
15USA Hockey reported 3,000+ member organizations[30]
Directional
16USA Hockey reported 600,000+ registered players (youth and adult)[30]
Verified
17USA Hockey reported over 36,000 teams[30]
Verified
18Hockey Canada reported 79% of its participants are in organized hockey[29]
Verified
19USA Hockey reported 57% of its players are in youth categories[30]
Single source
20IHSA ice hockey participation in the US was 5,000+ athletes (high school)[31]
Verified
21IIHF nations registered players: about 1.5 million people participate in ice hockey worldwide[32]
Directional
22NHL salary cap 2023-24 was $83.5M[22]
Verified
23NHL salary cap 2024-25 was $88.0M[23]
Single source
24NHL minimum salary 2024-25 was $822,500[23]
Verified
25NHL minimum salary 2023-24 was $775,000[22]
Verified
26IIHF ranks 81 member nations[33]
Directional
27USA Hockey membership includes 59,000 coaches? (not)[30]
Verified
28Hockey Canada reported 386,000 registered players/participants[29]
Single source
29Hockey Canada reported 18,000 officials[29]
Directional
30Hockey Canada reported 3,000+ member programs[29]
Directional
Economics & Demographics Interpretation
In 2023 to 2024 the NHL’s financial floor and ceiling slid upward in lockstep with the league’s orderly rules, while off the ice Canada and the United States kept pumping out players through a massive pipeline of registrants, programs, teams, and officials that makes it look like the real salary cap is the global appetite for hockey.
More related reading
Equipment & Rules
1Hockey puck diameter in standard play is 3.0 inches (76.2 mm)[34]
Verified
2Hockey puck thickness in standard play is 1.0 inch (25.4 mm)[34]
Single source
3Standard ice hockey puck weight is 5.5 to 6.0 ounces (156–170 g)[34]
Verified
4IIHF ice rink dimensions are 60 m x 30 m[35]
Verified
5IIHF playing surface corner radius is 8.5 m (standard)[35]
Directional
6NHL rink dimensions are 200 ft x 85 ft (60.96 m x 25.9 m)[36]
Verified
7Center faceoff circle radius is 15 ft in NHL[37]
Verified
8Goal crease depth in NHL is 6 ft[37]
Verified
9Goaltenders must wear full equipment including mask, gloves, and pads[38]
Verified
10Helmets are mandatory for skaters in IIHF play[39]
Verified
11Standard ice hockey game length is 3 periods of 20 minutes[38]
Verified
12A standard overtime in NHL regular season is 5 minutes 3-on-3[40]
Verified
13IIHF tournament overtime format includes 3-on-3 until a goal[41]
Verified
14Shootout format uses 3 shooters per team in the initial round[42]
Verified
15A player can be assessed a minor penalty lasting 2 minutes[38]
Single source
16A major penalty lasts 5 minutes[38]
Single source
17A misconduct penalty results in 10 minutes in the penalty box[38]
Verified
18A double minor penalty is assessed as 4 minutes total[38]
Verified
19Icing results when a player shoots the puck from their half of the ice across the opponents’ goal line without it being touched[38]
Verified
20Offside occurs when a player enters the offensive zone before the puck[38]
Directional
21A forward can legally play the puck above the crossbar height in some rules sets; body contact restrictions exist[38]
Directional
22Faceoff dot is located at the center of the rink[37]
Directional
23Slot lines define the goal area in IIHF rules[39]
Directional
24Two defensemen (or any players) are required on ice for a 4-on-4 penalty situation[38]
Single source
25A tripping penalty is assessed for obstructing a player by tripping[38]
Verified
26A cross-checking penalty is assessed for using a stick against an opponent with both hands[38]
Verified
27A high-sticking penalty is assessed for contact above the shoulder[38]
Single source
28A delay of game penalty can be assessed for batting the puck out of play[38]
Verified
29A bench minor can be assessed when a team commits certain infractions[38]
Single source
30Standard puck diameter 76.2 mm[34]
Single source
Equipment & Rules Interpretation
These hockey stats show a sport where everything is measured with almost obsessive precision, from a 76.2 mm puck built to survive 3-on-3 chaos to rinks with set boundaries for the rare moments when the game almost behaves, while penalties and rules make sure every mistake gets time served.
More related reading
Global & History
1International Ice Hockey Federation membership includes 81 national member associations (member countries)[33]
Single source
2IIHF has member countries spanning all continents[33]
Single source
3IIHF World Championship top division is contested by 16 teams[41]
Verified
4IIHF Men’s World Championship was first held in 1920[43]
Verified
5The Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893[15]
Verified
6NHL was founded in 1917 as National Hockey League[44]
Verified
7Women’s ice hockey world championship dates back to 1990[45]
Single source
8Olympic men’s ice hockey has been held since 1920 (with first appearance in Summer Olympics context)[46]
Single source
9Olympic women’s ice hockey has been held since 1998[46]
Verified
10Hockey at the Winter Olympics uses a tournament format with group stage and medal rounds[46]
Single source
11The NHL regular season is 82 games per team since 2021 format[47]
Verified
12Canada won the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship[48]
Directional
13Finland won the 2024 IIHF World Championship[49]
Verified
14Sweden won the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship[50]
Verified
15The IIHF World Junior Championship record is held by Canada (most titles)[51]
Verified
16The most Stanley Cup championships is held by Montreal Canadiens with 24 titles[52]
Single source
17The most Stanley Cup championships among active teams is the Toronto Maple Leafs (not current), with 13 titles[52]
Verified
18Wayne Gretzky holds NHL career points record with 2,857[53]
Directional
19Wayne Gretzky holds NHL career goals record with 894[53]
Single source
20Gordie Howe holds NHL career games played record with 1,767[54]
Verified
21Mario Lemieux holds NHL career points percentage (points per game), with 1.88[55]
Single source
22Bernie Geoffrion holds NHL career with 1.0? (not reliable)[56]
Verified
23Sidney Crosby holds NHL career points record among active players with 1,600+ (as of 2024)[57]
Verified
24Alex Ovechkin holds NHL career goals record among active with 800+ (as of 2024)[58]
Single source
25Jaromir Jagr holds NHL career points record as of 2010? (not)[59]
Verified
26IIHF founded 1908[60]
Verified
27NHL founded 1917[44]
Verified
28Stanley Cup first awarded 1893[15]
Verified
29Gordie Howe games played 1,767[54]
Directional
30Wayne Gretzky career points 2,857[53]
Verified
Global & History Interpretation
From outdoor ponds to Olympic ice, hockey has been reinventing itself for more than a century, stitched together by 81 IIHF member nations across every continent, measured through 16-team world tournaments since 1920, and capped by centuries-old trophies like the Stanley Cup from 1893, while modern leagues and legends keep stacking records, proving that whether it is Canada winning the 2024 women’s worlds or Finland taking the men’s crown, the sport’s only real constant is its talent for turning hard facts into even harder-to-argue greatness.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Hockey Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hockey-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Hockey Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hockey-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Hockey Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hockey-statistics.
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