MONTREAL — The World Cup of Hockey is returning three years from now. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association unveiled plans Tuesday to host a tournament in early 2028, aiming for February. The goal is to have an international tournament every other year, with players going to the Olympics in 2026 and ’30.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, aiming to establish a regular cycle of international tournaments featuring the world's top players.

The NHL and NHLPA have committed to putting on a World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and will begin soliciting bids in the next few months from potential host cities and venues in North America and Europe.

It has been more than a decade since the NHL last participated in the Olympics and almost nine years since the league's top players took part in an international tournament. That wait is about to end when the puck drops on the 4 Nations Face-Off involving the United States,

There’s going to be a lot of international hockey in the coming years. Ahead of the opening of the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal on Wednesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league’s plans to have a best-on-best international tournament every second year.