Ice hockey is one of the fastest sports ever devised, with each game a blur of skates, sticks and heart-pounding action where athleticism, speed and physicality matters almost as much as sheer skill.It's a full-contact sport watched by millions around the world, as well as being one of the premier events at the Winter Olympics.

You can bet on every bit of action from ice hockey competitions around the world at William Hill. From the elite of the NHL to the Ice Hockey World Championships and more, whatever ice hockey odds you're looking for you'll find them here with our amazing range of ice hockey betting markets.

Betting on NHL

The National Hockey League, better known as the NHL, is ice hockey's premier competition. Thirty-two teams from the US and Canada compete for the right to lift the Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America having been first awarded in 1893 to Montreal Hockey Club.

You can bet on every game from the NHL at William Hill, withice hockey betting marketson the winner of each game, the outright winner of the Stanley Cup, total match goals, correct score and plenty more.

The NHL was founded in 1917 and is now seen as the top domestic ice hockey league in the world, with huge crowds cramming arenas every week and millions more watching at home. The 32 teams are split into an Eastern and Western Conference, with two divisions within each conference. After an 82-game regular season the playoffs kick into action with best-of-seven series to qualify for the next round and reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

In 2023, the Stanley Cup was won for the first time by the Vegas Golden Knights – just six years after the team's formation – after they beat the Florida Panthers 4-1.

The 2023/24 NHL season will start on Tuesday, October 10th 2023 with the Golden Knights raising their first Stanley Cup banner before taking on Seattle Kraken as the season's curtain raiser.The regular season concludes on 18th April 2024, with the playoffs running until June 2024.

Betting on the Stanley Cup

The goal for any NHL team is to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the right to compete for the famous old trophy.It's the prize for winning a best-of-seven series between the champion of the Eastern and Western Conferences in the NHL, and is one of the highlights of the ice hockey calendar.

You can bet on every second and every slapshot from the Stanley Cup Finals at William Hill, with all the latest ice hockey odds on each game, the outright winner, the margin of victory and more.You'll find betting markets and odds on players to score multiple goals, which player will score first, and others.

The 2022/23 Stanley Cup Finals saw a first-time champion in the Vegas Golden Knights, and the most successful side in NHL history is the Montreal Canadiens with an incredible 24 titles.

Betting on the Ice Hockey World Championship

Bet on the winner of the annual Ice Hockey World Championships, as well as choosing from a fantastic range of ice hockey betting markets on every game between the finest international teams on the globe. There are five divisions with the top 16 teams in the Championship group, and the other divisions competing for ranking positions.

Canada are both the current champions, and the nation who has won the Ice Hockey World Championship the most times. Canada beat Germany 5-2 in the 2023 final, with Latvia beating the USA to take the bronze medal.

The next Ice Hockey World Championship will be hosted by the Czech Republic in the cities of Prague and Ostrava and will start on 10th May 2024.

Ice hockey betting markets

There's more to domestic ice hockey than just the NHL, though, with a host of high-quality leagues throughout the world.

At William Hill you'll find odds from the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League, Czech 1.Liga, German DEL, OHL, Swiss NLA, WHL and lots more.And there's lots on offer beyond simply betting on the winner of the next game – although you'll find the best selection of money-line odds here too. Look out for betting markets on:

- Money line – who will win the game? (includes overtime and shootouts)

- 60 minutes betting – what will the result be after 60 minutes?

- Total match goals

- Competition winner – pick the outright winner of the competition

- First, Last or Next goalscorer

- Correct score

- Both teams to score

- Winning margin

Plus, for the biggest ice hockey games around you'll find special markets, price boosts and enhanced odds to give you an incredible variety of ice hockey betting choices.

Ice hockey betting tips

Ice hockey is fast-paced, with possession changing sides rapidly and the puck moving up and down the rink at high speed. To make sure you don't feel like you're getting left behind, we've rounded up someice hockey betting tips to help you make infor med decisions when you're browsing our odds:

- Check the head-to-head record: how have previous meetings between the two sides gone? Does one team dominate? How does the balance shift based on the venue – does one team get a boost when playing in front of their own fans, or are the opposition good travellers?

- Check the stats: stats aren't everything, but they can give you superb insight into how a team or player has been performing. There are tons of stats and ice hockey analytics out there that can give you an edge when it comes to placing your bet.

- Team form: simply, how is a team playing? Are they on an unbeaten run, or have they been on a losing streak? If the latter, are they a team with the talent to turn it round or is this just the middle of a long-term slump?

- Injuries: injuries are a big deal in any sport but have an especially big impact on a fast and physical game like ice hockey. Make sure to look at if a team has their star players available and fully fit – it's always important to know who'll be playing in the next game.