Ice hockey fans have the opportunity to see some of the sport's best players competing in three exhibition games between the USA and Canada in New Zealand.

They are planned to play one another on a specially imported $4.2 million ice rink in July and August.

Top level ice hockey is coming to New Zealand.

It is a 60x30m portable ice rink holding 250,000 litres of water and is being specially imported from Amsterdam.

Promoter Craig Douglas, director of Christchurch-based event management promotions company Douglas Webber Events, says the rink is the largest of its kind in the world, and will be transported throughout the country in nine 40 foot containers.

'Fifty staff will be employed to lay the floor and erect the dasher boards and glass bunting,” says Craig.

'This floor will take 48 hours to build and freeze and will cost $2000 a day to maintain.”

The games will attract an estimated 25,000 spectators to witness special effects with the tour being lead by Colorado Avalanche defender Kyle Quincey.

Kyle has played more than 500 games in the NHL and is considered one of the best in the business.

'Sound and lighting effects, pyrotechnics and flamethrowers are just the beginning.

'Sports fans will witness all the action and aggression live on the big screen, with slow motion replays, getting up close and personal.”

Craig says it is hard to grasp the enormity of these world class hockey countries, USA and Canada, which sell out stadiums of 20,000 people every night.

'For these players to come here to New Zealand is a massive privilege.

'The infamous rivalry between these two nations won't be left at home.”

The games are at Auckland's Vector Arena on July 23, Christchurch CBS Canterbury Arena on July 30 and the Dunedin Ice Stadium on August 3.

All games are being filmed for international television and screened in New Zealand, Canada, the United States and Australia.