Get your skates on: Hockey apps for Lumia

The NHL season is back! Here’s a slap shot … sorry, snapshot of our favorite Windows Phone hockey apps.

While the baseball World Series is over (Congratulations, San Francisco Giants!), there’s no need to put your sports apps on ice for the winter.

Well, actually, that’s not entirely true, because hockey season is well and truly underway!

Yes, the National Hockey League is back with plenty of hard-hitting action spanning North America, from Toronto to Tampa Bay.

From now to the middle of next June, 30 teams will get battered and bloody with the ultimate goal of lifting the famous Stanley Cup high.

So grab your Lumia and follow every goal, penalty and black eye–or take a swing yourself–with this collection of apps for Windows Phone.

Hockey Pro ’14 (Windows Phone 7.5 and up)

This free app from the makers of the awesome NFL-themed namesake is a great place to follow action across the league.

It serves up live scores complete with goal scorer information, in-depth statistics (like top scorers), game schedules and up-to-the-minute standings from the eastern and western conferences. You can also pick a favourite team to follow with detailed news updates.

Fantasy Hockey (Windows Phone 8 and up)

Updated for the 2014-2015 season, this free app is the best way to follow your dream team and league, set up through the Yahoo Sports Fantasy Hockey service.

After you authorize this third-party app to access your team information, you can check performances, make roster changes, view player notes and weigh up your forthcoming opponents.

With this simple app, you can also easily switch between the leagues you’re playing in. Nothing can be overlooked when fantasy pride is at stake!

Hockey Nations Powerplay (Windows Phone 8 and up)

One of the finer sports simulators available on the Windows Phone store, the highly rated Hockey Nations Powerplay (99 cents) gives you control of the on-ice action.

Renowned for its AI and stunning motion-captured animations, this game lets you choose from more than 50 teams—or create one of your own. Take the ice in one of six game modes, including practice, exhibition, world league and shoot-out.

Users can set strategy and change it on the fly and, if things aren’t going as planned, throw down the gloves and helmets and have a massive fight.

Hockey Live (Windows Phone 7.5 and up)

Here’s another fantastic and free app to follow the ins and outs of the National Hockey League.

Create live tiles and a dedicated landing page for your favorite team. See the latest scores (shake your phone to refresh the score!), up-to-date statistics, as well as videos from ESPN and access to the Twitter feeds of various NHL teams, players, broadcasters and more.

There’s also a great news section, enabling you share articles via email, social media and SMS.

If you’ve taken these apps for a spin (or a skate), or if you have a favorite hockey app we haven’t listed here, share your thoughts in the comments section.

And finally, who do you think will capture this year’s Stanley Cup? I’m going with the Chicago Blackhawks.