Hockey API: KHL, NHL, and international tournaments

Modern sports have long gone beyond just a spectator event. Today, it is closely linked with technology, analytics, and online services. Here, tools come to the rescue sports APIs — tools that allow you to obtain data about matches, statistics, and results in real time. They solve the main problem — the speed and reliability of information.

Such solutions are especially relevant in hockey, where every second and every action on the ice is important. API-sport is one of the most popular services for integrating sports data. It is useful for application developers, betting platforms, sports media, and analysts who need accurate data for forecasts and publications.

¿Qué es API-sport?

API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface through which programs interact with each other. In sports, the API allows you to obtain structured data about matches, tournament tables, odds, and players directly from the information provider.

API-deporte — one of the largest services in this niche. It gained popularity due to the ease of connection, a wide database, and support for dozens of sports. Among its capabilities:

• real-time match results;

• player and team statistics;

• archives by seasons;

• odds for bets;

• team rosters and transfer information.

Unlike competitors, API-sport stands out for its update stability, support for REST and WebSocket, as well as convenient documentation.

Hockey API: KHL, NHL, and international tournaments

In the hockey theme API-deporte it is especially valuable because it covers all key tournaments: KHL, NHL, Olympic Games, World Championships, youth championships, and other international competitions. Such coverage allows for the creation of projects aimed at both club hockey enthusiasts and fans of national teams.

Through the API, a wide range of data can be obtained, which is necessary for various tasks — from analytics to betting:

• Match results and schedules — information is updated in real-time, including date, time, venue, and current score;

• Bookmaker odds — useful for betting platforms and odds comparison services, where it is important to see how the chances of outcomes change;

• Team rosters and all changes in them — starting fives, substituted players, injuries, and disqualifications;

• Player statistics — detailed metrics for each hockey player: number of goals scored, assists, penalty minutes, plus/minus rating, and other data;

• Information on transfers and contracts — moves between clubs, loans, and contract extensions, which is especially important for analysts and fan communities;

• Advanced analytics for predictions and betting — summary data on team form, results of head-to-head matches, effectiveness of lines, and individual statistics of leaders.

Thanks to this level of detail, API-sport allows not only tracking hockey events but also building full-fledged analytical systems, fan applications, and professional betting tools.

Deportes soportados

Although this article primarily focuses on hockey, the capabilities of API-sport are not limited to this discipline alone. The service supports dozens of sports, making it a universal tool for developers and analysts.

Among the most popular areas:

• Football — the largest world championships (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, etc.), national championships, and international tournaments;

• Basketball — NBA, Euroleague, national leagues, and cup competitions;

• Tennis — ATP, WTA, and ITF tournaments, including statistics for each match and player;

• Esports — disciplines like CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, where live results and analytics are especially important;

• Handball, volleyball, baseball, cricket, rugby, and others — coverage of less popular but in-demand sports for niche projects.

Such a wide selection makes API-sport a universal platform: the same technologies can be used for both a website with football statistics and a mobile application for hockey or a portal about esports. This is especially convenient for companies that operate in several areas at once and want to connect data from different disciplines through a single interface.

Tecnologías y formatos

Data is transmitted in convenient formats:

• REST API — for requests via HTTP;

• WebSocket — for streaming live results without delays;

• JSON and XML — for integration into different systems.

How to access the Hockey API: KHL, NHL, and international tournaments

To start using API-deporte, you need to follow a few simple steps:

1. Registration on the API-sport website
   First, you need to create an account on the official website of the service. The process takes just a few minutes: enter your email address, password, and basic information about the project. After confirming the e-mail, access to the personal account is opened.
2. Obtaining a personal API key
   After registration, each user is issued a unique API key. This is a kind of “pass” to the data — without it, the service will not process requests. The key is attached to the account and allows tracking the number of requests to the database, as well as protecting the system from unauthorized access.
3. Choosing a tariff plan

   Depending on your goals, you can choose a suitable option:

   • Free demo access — a limited number of requests per day and basic functionality. Suitable for testing and trial integration.

   • Basic tariff — extended limits and access to current statistics.

   • PRO plan — a full set of features: live data, instant updates, archived records by seasons, increased limits, and priority support.

Thus, the process of connecting to the API service is simple and clear: register, get a key, and choose a tariff. Only after that can you send your first requests and integrate hockey data into a website, mobile application, or analytical platform.

RapidAPI, SportRadar y otras plataformas proporcionan acceso a BetsAPI y Livescore API a través de sus canales. Esto es conveniente para los desarrolladores que necesitan integraciones listas y SLA confiables.

In addition to connecting directly through the official API-sport website, developers and companies can also use third-party platforms to access sports data. This approach is convenient if the project is already working through API aggregators or if it is necessary to combine several sources of information in one place.

One of the most popular options is RapidAPI — the largest API marketplace. Here, thousands of services are collected in a single catalog, including API-sport. This allows you to connect hockey data (KHL, NHL, international tournaments) literally in a few clicks, test the functionality, and even combine sports APIs with other services, such as payment or geolocation. RapidAPI is convenient for startups and developers who want to quickly integrate ready-made solutions without unnecessary configurations.

Another major player is SportRadar. This is an international provider of sports information that focuses on advanced analytics and premium data. SportRadar has exclusive agreements with some leagues, so it is mainly chosen by large companies and bookmakers that need the deepest data and predictive models. However, the price of such solutions is significantly higher than that of API-sport.

If flexibility, simplicity, and accessibility are important for the project, it is most convenient to use API-sport directly or through RapidAPI. On the other hand, SportRadar is more suitable for global platforms with large budgets and increased analytical requirements.

Integración de API

Ejemplos de conexión

Python: