WHL to livestream games on YouTube

Published 12:50 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Western Hockey League logo.
(Contributed image)

The Western Hockey League has announced it will be livestreaming games for free on YouTube to begin the 2026-27 season.

Victory+ has been the WHL’s exclusive livestreaming partner since 2025. But with the streaming service reportedly being dissolved, the WHL has decided to shift to another platform, on an interim basis.

“The WHL’s audience is growing rapidly. We continue to believe that providing easy access to games is of critical value and importance as we look to expand our reach and deliver WHL excitement to our fans,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near.

“By moving WHL Regular Season games to YouTube on a short-term basis, we are protecting that access for fans to livestream their favourite WHL Club and watch their favourite WHL stars when the 2026-27 season gets underway Friday, Sept. 18.”

Over two playoffs and one regular season, the WHL had “millions of viewers tuning in,” the league stated in a media release on Wednesday, Sept. 2. WHL Clubs invested in enhancements to their productions, including additional content, intermission programming and camera angles.

“While we are disappointed to part ways, our time with Victory+ resulted in remarkable growth and exposure for the WHL as a result of the increased accessibility for fans,” Near said.

“WHL Clubs pushed forward, investing in their production and exploring new ways to deliver games to fansom fans who discovered the WHL because of our decision to work alongside Victory+, a company with Western Canadian roots. In today’s changing landscape, accessibility to the product is paramount and we will explore all options to deliver games to WHL fans around the world.”

Consistency with game production will be maintained as the WHL enters its next livestreaming chapter, the league added.

More information regarding the WHL on YouTube will be made available ahead of the start of the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season.