It’s the year 2033. The number of players has increased by over 100% in the past 10 years, and there is now a strong national league with over 20 teams. There is also a growing number of players who are turning pro, and some have even gone on to play in the NHL. Yes, that does sound like a dream, but could it be a reality?

We have asked an AI how Ice Hockey in New Zealand will grow over the next ten years, and this is what we have found.

The number of registered ice hockey players in New Zealand has increased by an average of 10% per year over the past five years. This represents a significant rate of growth, and it shows that the sport is on the rise in the country.

According to the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF), there were 2082 registered ice hockey players in New Zealand in the 2022 season. This represents an increase of 25% from the 2019 season (prior to Covid19). The NZIHF projects that the number of registered ice hockey players in New Zealand will continue to grow in the coming years, and with the potential to reach over 2400 registered players by 2025, including Learn to Play and Social Senior player numbers.

The growth of ice hockey in New Zealand is being driven by several factors, including:

• The increasing popularity of ice hockey in other countries, specifically the United States which influences strongly on global media.
• The increasing availability of ice rinks and expanding associations in New Zealand.
• The efforts of the NZIHF and clubs from around the country to promote the sport to girls and women.

When asked: Can give you an estimate on how many ice hockey players New Zealand will have by 2033, AI has said.…

In 2022, there were 2,082 registered ice hockey players in New Zealand, across all age groups from youth to seniors. This represents a significant increase from the 1,470 players registered in 2018. If the growth rate of ice hockey in New Zealand continues at the same pace as it has been in recent years, we can project that there will be approximately 3,200 registered ice hockey players in New Zealand by 2033.

Assuming that the growth rate of ice hockey in New Zealand continues at the same pace as it has been in recent years. This estimate is based on the following assumptions:

• The average annual growth rate of ice hockey in New Zealand will be 5%.
• The number of ice hockey players in New Zealand will reach 2,532 by 2025.

Of course, this is just an estimate, and the actual number of ice hockey players in New Zealand in 2033 could be higher or lower. However, it is clear that the sport is growing in popularity, and we can expect to see a significant increase in the number of players in the coming years.

Here is a table showing the projected number of ice hockey players in New Zealand from 2018 to 2033:

Year	Number of Players
2018	1,470
2019	1,538
2020	1,608
2021	1,681
2022	2,082
2023	2,227
2024	2,377
2025	2,532
2026	2,693
2027	2,859
2028	3,031
2029	3,208
2030	3,392
2031	3,581
2032	3,777
2033	3,979

With this kind of growth in mind, it is possible that there could be as many as 15-20 players turning pro in the sport of ice hockey by 2033. The level of competition in New Zealand will need to continue to improve, and more scholarships and professional contracts will need to become available, but the growth of ice hockey in New Zealand is creating new opportunities for players to turn pro.

The future of ice hockey in New Zealand looks bright. With the continued development of the sport and the increasing popularity of the sport, there is potential for New Zealand to become a force to be reckoned with in the world of ice hockey. Maybe not yet but a short way down the line could be an exciting future to look forward too.