Claim: Ice hockey has national teams which compete internationally.
Evidence: In North America , the National Hockey League -LRB- NHL -RRB- is the highest level for men 's hockey and the most popular.
The National Hockey League -LRB- NHL ; Ligue nationale de hockey -- LNH -RRB- is a professional ice hockey league currently comprising 30 teams -- 23 in the United States and 7 in Canada -- with a 31st team in Las Vegas scheduled to begin play in the 2017 -- 18 season.