The 2026 IIHF World Championships opened Thursday with USA-Switzerland and Czechia-Denmark matches. Both games started at 2:20 p.m. ET and streamed free on IIHF.TV for unrestricted regions. Fans in blocked locations turned to ExpressVPN to watch, which is pushing a deep discount on subscriptions.
The Access Workaround
IIHF.TV has regional broadcast restrictions. ExpressVPN solves this by routing traffic through other countries. The current deal: $68.40 for two years plus four extra months free. Users get a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s a straightforward fix for fans wanting to watch.
📊 Market Data Snapshot
Zero Market Impact
This won’t move crypto markets. The hockey tournament has no connection to blockchain or digital assets. Current price action follows Fed policy and on-chain metrics. Bitcoin’s dominance stands above 55% while altcoins lag. Sports scheduling? It’s background noise.
Where Eyes Should Be
Traders should watch the Federal Reserve’s next rate decision. That could push BTC above $70k or test $60k support. The IIHF games won’t matter. The Fed meeting lands in two weeks. That’s what’ll move markets.



