Where To Watch and Play Hockey Games in Atlanta, GA

Atlanta might be known first for football, baseball, and basketball, but hockey games in Atlanta, GA are very much alive—just in a different way than a traditional NHL city. Whether you want to watch high-level hockey, play in an adult league, or take your kids to their first game, there are solid options in and around the metro area.

This guide focuses on what actually exists in and near Atlanta today, and how locals and visitors can experience hockey without having an NHL team in town.

Is There Professional Hockey in Atlanta?

Atlanta no longer has an NHL team, but you can still find pro-level or near-pro-level hockey and plenty of organized competition.

ECHL / Minor-League Hockey Near Atlanta

While there is no current ECHL team inside the Atlanta city limits, many fans treat nearby cities as their “home” teams for live, higher-level hockey:

• Atlanta Gladiators (Duluth, GA) – ECHL
  • Play at: Gas South Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097
  • Distance: About 25–35 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta (depending on your starting point and traffic).
  • Level: ECHL (AA-level professional hockey, one step below the AHL, two below the NHL).

For many residents in metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Gladiators are the primary option for live professional-style hockey games. Game nights have a family-friendly feel, with promotions, theme nights, and often affordable tickets compared with major-league sports.

College and Club Hockey in the Atlanta Area

If you’re looking for hockey games with a college feel, several Atlanta-area universities field club hockey teams that compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) or similar circuits.

Most of these clubs do not play on-campus—they use local ice rinks around metro Atlanta. Schedules and locations can vary by season, but common programs include:

Georgia Tech Hockey

• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Club Hockey
  • Based in Midtown Atlanta, though home games are usually held at rinks in the metro area (often in Duluth, Marietta, or Alpharetta, depending on the season).
  • Level: Club hockey (non-varsity), but generally competitive and fast-paced.

Fans who enjoy a college energy with lower ticket costs and a more intimate environment often enjoy Tech’s games.

Other Area College/Club Teams

You may also find club or intramural hockey activity connected to:

• University of Georgia (UGA) – Based in Athens, GA, but games may be scheduled within the wider region.
• Kennesaw State University (KSU) – North of Atlanta, sometimes involved in club hockey or intramural hockey-based activities.

These teams usually share regional rinks for games and practices. Because schedules change frequently, checking the latest season info from each program before heading to a game is important.

Youth and Amateur Hockey: Where Kids and Adults Play

If your interest in hockey games in Atlanta is more about playing than spectating, you’re in luck. Metro Atlanta has a surprisingly active youth and adult hockey scene, centered around a few key rinks.

Major Ice Rinks Around Atlanta

Below is a quick overview of well-known rinks where youth programs, adult leagues, and tournaments are often hosted.

Facility names and operators can change, but the northern suburbs (Alpharetta, Duluth, Marietta, Kennesaw) tend to be the main hubs for organized hockey.

➡️ Tip: For the most accurate details, look up the rink closest to you (for example, in Alpharetta or Marietta) and check its adult league and youth hockey pages a few weeks before the season you care about (fall/winter is usually busiest).

Adult Hockey Leagues in Metro Atlanta

Adult hockey in Atlanta is often organized into recreational, intermediate, and advanced leagues, many of which run year-round in multiple sessions.

Common features:

• Multiple skill levels: From “never played before” to ex-college or high-level travel experience.
• Evening and late-night games: Many adult games start after youth programming ends, often between 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
• Draft and team-entry formats:
  • Some leagues assign individual players to teams to keep things balanced.
  • Others are team-entry, where a captain brings a full roster.

If you’re new to the sport, look for:

• Beginner or “D” divisions
• Learn-to-play or instructional leagues tied to local rinks

These formats are specifically designed to help adults start from scratch, often including drills plus a short scrimmage or game.

Youth Hockey in Atlanta: Leagues, Clinics, and Games

For families, the focus is often on development programs and youth leagues that turn into weekend games and tournaments.

Typical Youth Path in Atlanta

1. Learn to Skate – Basic skating skills
2. Learn to Play Hockey – Stick, puck, positioning, and rules
3. House / Recreational Leagues – Weekly practices and games, mostly local
4. Travel / Tier-Level Teams – Higher commitment, more travel across the Southeast

Most Atlanta-area youth hockey programs:

• Break teams into age groups (such as 8U, 10U, 12U, etc.).
• Hold games mainly on weekends, with one or two weeknight practices.
• Participate in regional tournaments, which bring visiting teams and boost the local game calendar.

Parents in Atlanta usually work with the nearest rink-based program to minimize commuting. Northern suburbs tend to have the most robust program options, but families in the city proper often make the drive, especially for serious competitive play.

Public Skates, Pick-Up Games, and Open Hockey

If you’re not ready for a league, you can still get on the ice and experience a more casual version of hockey.

Pick-Up / “Drop-In” Hockey

Many rinks in the Atlanta area host:

• Stick-and-puck sessions:

  • Open time for shooting, skating with a stick and puck, and informal drills.
  • Usually non-contact and sometimes require helmets and basic pads.

• Drop-in hockey or pick-up games:

  • Unofficial, casually organized games.
  • Often limited to a certain number of skaters and goalies.
  • Commonly geared toward intermediate or higher-level players.

These sessions are a good way to get a feel for actual game flow without committing to a season-long league.

Public Skating Sessions

While not games, public sessions at Atlanta-area rinks are often a first step for future hockey players:

• Great for kids and adults to learn balance and confidence on the ice.
• Often less expensive than hockey programs.
• Typically available on weekends and some weekdays, especially during school breaks.

Watching Hockey Games in Atlanta Sports Bars and Venues

Even without an NHL team in town, many Atlanta residents still follow NHL, college, and international hockey. If you’d rather watch than play:

Sports Bars and Viewing Spots

Across Atlanta—especially in Midtown, Buckhead, Downtown, and the Battery area near Truist Park—you’ll find sports bars that:

• Show nationally televised NHL games on big screens.
• Carry playoff games and major events (like the Stanley Cup Final or international tournaments).
• Sometimes become unofficial “home bars” for fans of particular NHL franchises.

Since channel lineups and game availability can change, many fans:

• Call ahead to confirm the bar will show a specific game.
• Ask whether the audio will be on for the game, especially on busy nights.

Streaming at Home or in Hotels

In the Atlanta area, many viewers watch hockey through:

• National sports networks that carry NHL and college games.
• Dedicated streaming packages for out-of-market NHL games.
• Team-specific streaming options for those who support a favorite franchise from another city.

This can be especially convenient for visitors staying in downtown or Midtown hotels who want to catch a late game after exploring the city.

Seasonal Patterns: When Hockey Is Most Active in Atlanta

While indoor rinks operate year-round, hockey activity in Atlanta is more intense during cooler months, roughly:

• Main season: October through March/April
• Off-season / summer: Smaller leagues, skills clinics, and camps

What this means for you:

• If you want to see more competitive games, target the traditional fall–winter hockey season.
• If you’re looking to learn the sport, summer and early fall often have good beginner programs and camps with more open ice time.

Practical Tips for Experiencing Hockey in Atlanta

Here are simple ways to get started, whether your focus is watching games or playing:

• 🏒 To watch live pro-style games:

  • Look up the Atlanta Gladiators schedule at Gas South Arena in Duluth and plan a trip northeast from the city.

• 🎓 To see college-style games:

  • Check Georgia Tech hockey and other nearby college club programs for home game schedules at area rinks.

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For kids who might like hockey:

  • Find the closest ice rink to your home in metro Atlanta.
  • Ask about learn-to-skate and learn-to-play programs and when youth game schedules are posted.

• 👤 For adults wanting to play:

  • Call or visit the websites of rinks in Alpharetta, Duluth, Marietta, or nearby suburbs.
  • Look for “adult league,” “beginner hockey,” or “drop-in hockey” sections.

• 📍 If you’re visiting Atlanta:

  • See if your trip overlaps with a Gladiators home stand, a college club game, or a weekend tournament. It’s a fun way to experience a different side of Atlanta sports culture.

Even without an NHL franchise, hockey games in Atlanta, GA are very much part of the region’s sports landscape—centered around minor-league pro action, college club hockey, competitive youth programs, and active adult leagues spread across the metro’s ice rinks. Whether you’re in town for a weekend or live here year-round, you can find a way to either watch or join the game.