Swedish broadcaster Modern Times Group (MTG) has announced a new five-year partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) of America, granting it exclusive television and online rights for NHL games across the Nordic region.

MTG's deal, initially signed in 2009, will now run until 2021, and includes next year's World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.

Viewers in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark will be able to watch games from the regular season of the NHL as well as the Stanley Cup and other key NHL events, such as the end-of-season awards ceremony and the pre-season draft.

"The NHL is a great league with a huge and loyal fan base in the Nordics," said Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, MTG president and chief executive. "Our channels and sites are home to thousands of hours of a wide range of live sports every year, and we are making premium content like the NHL available on multiple screens so as to grow the community further. We look forward to building on our successful long term partnership with the NHL organisation and brand."

David Proper, NHL executive vice president of media distribution and strategy, commented: "MTG has been the perfect partner in bringing the great stories of the NHL to the passionate and knowledgeable hockey fans across the Nordics. We look forward to continuing to bring the world's best hockey to the Nordic countries."