Import entire NHL or single team schedules into Outlook

If you just want to do it, click here otherwise, read on.

Yes, hockey has finally returned. October 5th can't come any sooner. While browsing around the web, I started to look to see if anyone had a way to import the entire NHL season into my Outlook calendar. I did find one but a) they charged you for it and b) it wasn't ready yet. So, here's what I did:

1. Go to nhl.com and go to the schedules section
2. Copy and paste the season schedule into Excel
3. Create an XML mapping and export the excel data to an Xml file
4. Fire up VS.NET 2003 and create a WinForms project
5. Load the Xml into a DataSet, add the ability to apply a DataView to filter on single teams
6. Add a "Import into Outlook" button

When I got it working the way I liked (bug exist I'm sure) I imported every team schedule into Outlook. Word to the wise, if you don't like appointment spam, don't do this. Your calendar will look well...busy. So, I'm just importing some individual teams. Colorado is a given since they are my favorite. Dallas only because they are my best friends favorite. Probably Detroit since I hate them while a lot of other people like them. Vancouver since they are the closest city I can drive to.

Click here to download the app and import away..all 2 of you other hockey fans at least.

Comments

• Anonymous
  September 28, 2005
  Thanks for the tip! Go Pens!

• Anonymous
  October 04, 2005
  Thanks this is a geat tool! now I can track all games as I travel!

• Anonymous
  October 05, 2005
  You rock man. Your utility was by far the easiest and best I found. GAME ON MAN!!!

• Anonymous
  October 06, 2005
  Mark, this is exactly what I've been looking for... I am so happy with this app. Thank you.
  
  Is there any way of getting Outlook to not to add the 1 hour reminder?
  
  I think I'm gunna see if I can get this to work for the nfl schedule.

• Anonymous
  October 11, 2005
  this doesnt seem to work with outlook 2000...is that possible?

• Anonymous
  October 21, 2005
  Hi Mark,
  
  Can you explain more about how you performed the xml mapping once you had it in Excel? I'm not an excel expert and would like to learn more about that. Had no idea Excel could work with xml that easily.
  
  In the meantime thanks for posting the resulting xml file. I am going to use it to integrate other team's schedule into my site for Blackhawks fans (www.hawksnews.com) - and I would look forward to any feedback you might have on the site (spare content currently, hope to build it to capacity soon).
  
  Thanks again,
  Jeff
  
  

• Anonymous
  October 28, 2005
  This is exactly what I'm looking for...
  Thanks so much.
  Also for you other googlers, you may need to make the changes described on this site http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dno2k3ta/html/OfficePrimaryInteropAssembliesFAQ.asp
  I was receiving errors.
  

• Anonymous
  October 28, 2005
  This is exactly what I'm looking for...
  Thanks so much.
  Also for you other googlers, you may need to make the changes described on this site http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dno2k3ta/html/OfficePrimaryInteropAssembliesFAQ.asp
  I was receiving errors.
  

• Anonymous
  October 31, 2005
  Unfortunately, it crashes on a system with a non-US version of Outlook :-( Something about an unexpected date format......
  
  Oh well - back to manually tracking....
  
  Marc (mscheuner@mvps.org)

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  December 30, 2007
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