View source for Hockey Night in Canada

{{short description|CBC broadcasts of the National Hockey League in Canada}}
{{Redirect|H.N.I.C.|the albums|H.N.I.C. (Prodigy album)|and|H.N.I.C. (Pastor Troy album)}}
{{redirect|Hockey Night|the 1984 Canadian television drama film|Hockey Night (film)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = HNIC Logo.svg
| caption              = The current logo, used since [[1998–99 NHL season|1998]]
| alt_name             = ''Hockey Night in Canada presented by Rogers''<br>''Hockey Night in Canada on Sportsnet''<br>''Hockey Night in Canada on CBC''<br>''Molson Hockey Night in Canada on CBC'' {{noitalic|(1988–1998)}}
| presenter            = {{plainlist|
* [[Foster Hewitt]] (Radio 1931–1965)
* [[Bill Hewitt (sportscaster)|Bill Hewitt]] (TV Broadcaster 1958–1981; Toronto play by play)
* [[Scott Young (writer)|Scott Young]], [[Wes McKnight]], and Tom Foley (1957–1959)
* [[Ward Cornell]] (1959–1972; Toronto games)
* [[Frank Selke Jr.]] (1960–1967; Montreal games)
* [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (1967–1968, 1978–1979; Montreal games)
* [[Ted Darling]] (1968–1970; Montreal games)
* [[Bill Good Jr.]] and [[Ted Reynolds (broadcaster)|Ted Reynolds]] (1970–1976; Vancouver games)
* [[Brian McFarlane]] (1970–1991; Montreal and Winnipeg games)
* [[Dave Hodge]] (1971–1987)
* [[Mike Anscombe]] (1973–1974; Montreal games)
* [[Dave Reynolds (sportscaster)|Dave Reynolds]] (1975–1978; Montreal games)
* [[Steve Armitage]] (1977–2008; Vancouver games)
* [[Dick Irvin Jr.]] (1977–1999; Montreal games)
* [[Ron MacLean]] (1986–2014, 2022–present; early and late games, 2016–2022; early games)
* [[Don Cherry]] (1980–2019; early and late games)
* [[George Stroumboulopoulos]] (2014–2016)
* [[David Amber]] (2016–2022; late games, 2023–present; late games during Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada)
}}
| starring             = {{plainlist|
* [[Chris Cuthbert]] (early games, [[Stanley Cup Playoffs]])
* [[Craig Simpson]] (early games, Stanley Cup Playoffs)
* [[Kyle Bukauskas]] (early games)
* [[John Bartlett (sportscaster)|John Bartlett]]
* [[Garry Galley]]
* [[Shawn McKenzie]] (early games)
* [[Harnarayan Singh]]
* [[Jack Michaels]] (Oilers games)
* [[Louie DeBrusk]]
* [[Scott Oake]] (late games)
* [[Kelly Hrudey]]
* [[Kevin Bieksa]]
* [[Elliotte Friedman]]
* [[Jennifer Botterill]] (early games)
}}
| theme_music_composer = John Herberman (since 2014)
| open_theme            = "[[The Hockey Theme]]"<br />(1968–2008)<br /> "Canadian Gold" (2008–present)
| country              = Canada
| language             = English
| location             = [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]], [[Toronto]] (until 2021)<br/>[[Rogers Building (Toronto)|Rogers Building]], [[Toronto]] (since 2021)
| camera               = [[multiple-camera setup|multi-camera]]
| runtime              = >6 hours
| company              = {{plainlist|
* [[McCann (company)#McCann Canada|MacLaren Advertising]]/Canadian Sports Network (1931–1986)
* [[Don Ohlmeyer|Don Ohlmeyer Communications]]/[[Molson Brewery|Molstar Communications]] (1986–1988)<ref>{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Ken |title=Hockey Night in Canada sold to Molson's, U.S. firm |work=Toronto Star |date=May 24, 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Ken |title=Hockey magazines bidding for a piece of TV market |work=Toronto Star |date=January 8, 1988}}</ref>
* [[CBC Sports]] and Molstar Communications (1988–1998)
* CBC Sports (1998–2014)
* [[Sportsnet]] (2014–present)
}}
| network              = {{plainlist|
* [[CNR Radio]] (1931–1933)
* [[Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission]] (1933–1936)
* [[CBC Radio]] (1936–1976)
}}
| network2             = {{plainlist|
* [[CBC Television]] (1952–present) (Saturday games)
* [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] (1965–1975) (Wednesday games)
* [[Sportsnet]]/[[FX Canada|FX]]/[[Citytv]]/[[Omni Television]]<br />(2014–present)
}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1931|11|12}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1976|05|16}}
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|1952|10|11}}
| last_aired2          = present
| related              = ''[[NHL on Sportsnet]]''<br/>''[[NHL on ABC]]''<br />{{small|(U.S. over-the-air broadcaster)}}<br />''[[La Soirée du hockey]]''
}}
'''''Hockey Night in Canada''''' (often abbreviated '''''Hockey Night''''' or '''''HNiC''''') is a long-running program of broadcast [[ice hockey]] play-by-play coverage in Canada. With roots in pioneering hockey coverage on private radio stations as early as 1923, it gained its current name as the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC) formed in 1936, and by that time had solidified its focus on the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). Transitioning to television in 1952, the program became a Canadian Saturday night cultural fixture and was an exclusive mainstay of [[CBC Sports]] through the [[2013–14 NHL season]]. The program continued to be broadcast on [[CBC Television]] and expanded to several other outlets in a cross-licensing arrangement following [[Rogers Media]]'s acquisition of exclusive NHL television rights in Canada beginning in [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15]]; the CBC maintains ownership<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&status=&fileNumber=0357653&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1|title=Canadian trade-mark data: Application no. 0357653|journal=Canadian Trade-marks Database|publisher=[[Canadian Intellectual Property Office]]|date=2014-09-16|access-date=2014-09-20}}</ref> of the Hockey Night in Canada brand itself.

Saturday NHL broadcasts began in 1931 on the [[CNR Radio]] network, and debuted on television in 1952. Initially games were aired once a week, but doubleheader games had debuted in 1995 at 7:30 pm and 10:30 pm [[Eastern Time Zone|(ET)]] start times. Since 1998, the games begin at 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm (ET). The broadcast features various segments during the intermissions and between games, as well as [[Pre-game show|pre-game]] and [[Post-game show|post-game]] coverage of games that day, and player interviews. It also shows the hosts' opinions on news and issues occurring in the league.

Ahead of the [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15 season]], [[Rogers Sports & Media|Rogers Media]] had secured exclusive national multimedia rights to NHL games and would sub-license Saturday night and playoff games to the CBC. In addition, the ''HNiC'' brand would be licensed to Rogers for [[Sportsnet]]-produced Saturday [[NHL on Sportsnet|NHL broadcasts]] airing on CBC Television, as well as the Rogers-owned [[Citytv]] and Sportsnet outlets.<ref name="torstar-rogersnhl14">{{cite news|title=NHL signs 12-year TV, Internet deal with Rogers; CBC keeps 'Hockey Night in Canada'|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_signs_12year_broadcast_deal_with_rogers_cbc_keeps_hockey_night_in_canada.html|work=Toronto Star|access-date=26 November 2013|date=November 26, 2013}}</ref> This sub-license agreement runs through the end of the Rogers deal with the NHL.

== History ==

=== Radio ===
Hockey broadcasting originated with [[Sports commentator#Main/play-by-play commentator|play-by-play]] radio broadcasts from Toronto's [[Arena Gardens]], which began on February 8, 1923, on Toronto station [[CFCA (AM)|CFCA]] when [[Norman Albert]] announced the third period of play of an intermediate men's [[Ontario Hockey Association]] game. [[Foster Hewitt]] took over announcing duties within a month,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zweig |first1=Eric |title=Hockey Nerd – Part II: Radio Active |date=February 11, 2015 |url=http://ericzweig.com/2015/02/11/hockey-nerd-part-ii/ |access-date=13 June 2023}}</ref> and after several years of sporadic coverage that began to include [[National Hockey League]] games, the broadcasts went national in 1931 as the ''General Motors Hockey Broadcast''. The program began broadcasting Saturday-night [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] games on [[1931–32 NHL season|November 12, 1931]], over the [[Canadian National Railway radio network]], of which CFCA was an affiliate. The more-powerful [[CFRB]] replaced CFCA as the program's Toronto flagship station in 1932. The show was sponsored by [[General Motors Canada|General Motors Products of Canada]] and produced by [[McCann (company)#McCann Canada|MacLaren Advertising]], which had acquired exclusive radio-broadcasting rights for [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] from [[Conn Smythe]] in 1931 and produced the TV broadcast that became ''Hockey Night in Canada'' from 1952 until 1988.

The [[Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission]] (CRBC) broadcast Montreal [[Montreal Canadiens|Canadiens]] and [[Montreal Maroons|Maroons]] games on its [[Quebec]] stations in 1933.<ref name=early /> [[Imperial Oil]] took over sponsorship from General Motors [[1934–35 NHL season|the following year]], and the broadcast became known as the ''Imperial Esso Hockey Broadcast''.<ref>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-national-railways Canadian National Railway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625144500/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/canadian-national-railways/ |date=June 25, 2017 }}, ''Canadian Encyclopedia'', accessed 2015-11-11</ref><ref>[http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/H/htmlH/hockeynight/hockeynight.htm "Hockey Night in Cad vadscvfranada"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309040137/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/H/htmlH/hockeynight/hockeynight.htm |date=March 9, 2009 }}, Museum of Broadcast Communications, accessed 2008-01-22</ref> The broadcasts began at 9&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]], around the start of the second period of play. The games began to be broadcast on the [[CBC Radio|Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC), the CRBC's successor, in 1936. The program acquired what would become its permanent title—''Hockey Night in Canada''—around that time, which was coined by Foster Hewitt.{{sfn|Mellanby|2007|p=6}}  It featured the Maple Leafs and was hosted by Gordon Calder, with play-by-play announcer Hewitt and [[Color commentator|colour commentary]] by [[Percy Lesueur]], in much of Ontario and points west.<ref name=early>[http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/sportsonradioandtv/Early_Hockey.html "Saturday Night Hockey / Hockey Night in Canada"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008194638/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/sportsonradioandtv/Early_Hockey.html |date=October 8, 2007 }}, ''Sports on Radio & Television'', Canadian Communications Foundation, accessed on 2008-01-22</ref> Montreal Maroons broadcasts were hosted by Doug Smith and [[Elmer Ferguson]] in English, and [[René Lecavalier]] called Montreal Canadiens games in French. After the Maroons folded in 1938, Smith and Ferguson hosted Canadiens games in English. The popularity of the radio show (and Hewitt) across Canada made it an obvious choice for early Canadian network-television programming.

Although it was never carried on a U.S. radio station, ''HNIC'' became popular with listeners in the [[northern United States]]; if a U.S.-based team (in [[Boston Bruins|Boston]], [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago]], [[Detroit Red Wings|Detroit]], or [[New York Rangers|New York City]]) was playing in Toronto on a Saturday night, thousands of fans in the American city whose team faced the Leafs would listen to the CBC broadcast via [[skywave]] (usually via 50,000-watt flagships [[CBLA-FM|CBL]] or [[CBME-FM|CBM]]); a game often attracted more listeners to ''HNIC'' than local stations did.

CBC Radio aired Saturday-night ''HNIC'' broadcasts through 1965, followed by ''Sunday Night NHL Hockey'' through 1976 (when the program moved to national television). Toronto's CFRB (originally a CNR Radio affiliate) took over the broadcast from CFCA in 1932, and continued to broadcast Maple Leaf games for many years with CBC Radio's Toronto station CBL.<ref name=early />

=== Television ===
[[File:Bill Guerin 2010-05-08.JPG|upright=0.9|alt=See caption|thumb|[[Bill Guerin]] of the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] is interviewed by ''HNIC'' reporter [[Elliotte Friedman]] before a May 8, 2010 playoff game against the [[Montreal Canadiens]] at [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Mellon Arena]].]]
''Hockey Night in Canada'' began airing on Saturday nights on [[CBC Television]] in [[1952–53 NHL season|1952]]. According to the CBC, [[instant replay]] made its world debut on a 1955 ''HNIC'' broadcast; CBC director George Retzlaff made a [[kinescope]] of a goal, and replayed it for the television audience seconds later.

Regular-season games were not broadcast in their entirety until 1968, and only one game was televised each Saturday night until the 1990s. From 1952 to 1964, the ''HNIC'' telecast followed the lead of the radio broadcast by beginning at 9&nbsp;p.m. ET; games were typically joined in progress shortly before (or during) the second period. Its start time was moved up to 8:30&nbsp;p.m. ET at the beginning of the [[1963–64 NHL season|1963–64 season]], allowing games to be joined in progress late in the first period. In the fall of 1968, regular-season games were shown in their entirety and the program began at 8&nbsp;p.m. Although a handful of games were broadcast in [[color television|colour]] during the 1966–67 regular season, all ''HNIC'' games began colour broadcasting during the [[1966–67 NHL season|1967 Stanley Cup playoffs]]. From 1965 through 1975, ''HNIC'' also produced and broadcast a Wednesday-night game on [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] (the CBC's privately owned competitor); the midweek games began to be broadcast by local stations during the [[1975–76 NHL season]].

The [[Vancouver Canucks]] joined the NHL in [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]], increasing the number of ''HNIC'' venues from two to three. During the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]] and [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]] seasons, four more Canadian teams (the [[Edmonton Oilers]], [[Quebec Nordiques]], [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]], and [[Calgary Flames]]) joined the NHL or relocated from the United States. The Oilers and Flames were featured frequently, since the teams were playoff contenders during the 1980s. The Nordiques, owned by [[Carling O'Keefe]] (a rival of ''HNIC'' sponsor [[Molson]]) with a small Anglophone fan base, were never broadcast from [[Quebec City]] during the regular season.

The CBC announced before the preliminary round of the [[1976 Stanley Cup playoffs|1976 playoffs]] that they would not televise any preliminary-round games, and the rights were sold back to the individual Canadian teams. Since [[1975–76 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]] earned a [[Bye (sports)|bye]] into the quarterfinals, this impacted [[1975-76 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto]] and [[1975-76 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]'s television coverage. While [[CHCH-TV|CHCH]] and [[CITY-TV|CITY]] televised all three games of the Toronto-[[1975-76 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh]] series (with [[Bill Hewitt (sportscaster)|Bill Hewitt]] and [[Brian McFarlane]]), [[CHAN-TV|CHAN]] picked up the Vancouver-[[1975-76 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] series. Game 1 of the [[1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-Toronto playoff series was televised locally to [[Southern Ontario]] by CHCH. Game 1 of the [[1977 Stanley Cup playoffs|1977]] [[1976-77 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh]]-[[1976-77 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto]] playoff series was seen regionally in [[southern Ontario]] on [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton's]] CHCH.

During the [[1978 Stanley Cup playoffs|1978 playoffs]], the [[NHL Network (1975 TV program)|NHL Network]] began [[simulcasting]] many games with ''Hockey Night in Canada''. [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]], the NHL Network's lead play-by-play announcer, covered play-by-play with ''HNIC''{{'s}} colour commentators; in Game 7 of the quarterfinal series between the [[1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]] and [[1977–78 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] on April 29, 1978, Kelly teamed up with [[Brian McFarlane]]. The [[1978 Stanley Cup Finals]] between the [[1977–78 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] and [[1977–78 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] and the [[1979 Stanley Cup Finals]] between the [[1978–79 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] and [[1978–79 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] were also simulcast.<ref>{{cite news|title=TV Finds New Ways of Rerunning Reruns|date=May 12, 1979|newspaper=The Hendersonville (N.C.) Times-News|page=7}}</ref>

==== {{anchor|1980s–1990s}}1980s and 1990s ====
On April 9, 1980, the CBC carried the [[ACTRA Award]]s ceremony. Game 2 of the [[1979–80 Hartford Whalers season|Hartford]]–[[1979–80 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]] playoff series was televised in French and the [[1979–80 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-[[1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]] and [[1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto]]-[[1979–80 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]] games were shown only on local stations [[CITV-DT|CITV]] in [[Edmonton]] and [[CHCH-TV|CHCH]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], respectively. The [[1979–80 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]-[[1979–80 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo]] game was televised by the CBC regionally in [[British Columbia]], since the ACTRA Awards show was [[Broadcast delay|tape-delayed]] into [[prime time]] on the [[British Columbia Coast|west coast]].

Except for the [[1982 Stanley Cup Finals]], the CBC's only other nationally televised postseason games that year were the April 23 [[1981–82 Boston Bruins season|Boston]]-[[1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec]] game (Game 6), the April 25 Quebec-Boston game (Game 7), and the May 6 [[1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]-[[1981–82 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]] game (Game 5). All the other games were seen regionally.

[[NHL on CTV|CTV]] had the national rights for the 1986 [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]-[[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]] playoff series, except in the [[CFCN-TV|Calgary market]] (in which the CBC and [[Molson]] retained exclusive rights). CTV was unable to televise Games 2 and 3 of this series due to prior commitments. The CBC was allowed to televise Games 2 and 3 to [[CBRT (TV)|Alberta]] and [[CBUT|British Columbia]], but not nationally.

On April 18, 1988 (during Game 1 of the [[1987–88 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]]–[[1987–88 Boston Bruins season|Boston]] playoff series) at 8:08&nbsp;p.m. local time, [[Quebec]] experienced a power outage. Darkness enveloped [[Montreal]] and the [[Montreal Forum|Forum]]; the Forum's reserve generators could only illuminate the rink enough to keep the game moving, and the CBC abandoned its coverage after the first period. [[Chris Cuthbert]] was assigned by the CBC to report and provide updates on Game 1 of the [[1987–88 Washington Capitals season|Washington]]-[[1987–88 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey]] playoff series. When Quebec blacked out, the CBC tasked Cuthbert with working the rest of the game. In Boston, [[WSBK-TV]] lost the picture but continued audio of the game with [[Fred Cusick]] and [[Derek Sanderson]] by telephone.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1988-04-19|title=6 Million Without Power During Night : Quebec Gets Lights Back, Then New Outage Hits|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-19-mn-1451-story.html|access-date=2021-08-01|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A power failure -- the second in 12 hours...|last=Perley |first=Warren |date=April 19, 1988 |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/04/19/A-power-failure-the-second-in-12-hours/2689577425600/|access-date=2021-08-01|website=UPI|language=en}}</ref> [[NHL on Global|Canwest/Global]] aired the 1988 [[Battle of Alberta|Calgary-Edmonton]] playoff series nationally, except for the [[CITV-TV|Edmonton]] and [[CICT-TV|Calgary]] markets (where the CBC retained exclusive rights).

After [[Wayne Gretzky]] was traded to the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in [[1988–89 NHL season|1988]], the network began showing occasional [[Doubleheader (television)|double-headers]] when Canadian teams visited Los Angeles to showcase the sport's most popular player. The games were often joined in progress, since the start time for ''HNIC'' was still 8&nbsp;p.m. ET, while Gretzky's Kings home games began at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]] (10:30&nbsp;p.m. ET). Weekly double-headers became permanent during the [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95 season]], with games starting at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) and 7:30&nbsp;p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET), respectively. The start times were moved up to 7&nbsp;p.m. ET (4 p.m. ET) and PT (10 p.m. ET) in 1998, with a 30-minute [[pre-game show]] airing at 6:30&nbsp;p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT).

[[Paul Graham (television producer)|Paul Graham]] was the senior producer of ''Hockey Night in Canada'' from 1998 until 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techlifetoday.nait.ca/articles/2018/paul-graham-tsn-canadian-football-hall-of-fame|title=Paul Graham named to Canadian Football Hall of Fame|last=Messenger|first=Scott|date=December 10, 2018|website=[[Northern Alberta Institute of Technology]]|access-date=April 16, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cfhof.ca/members/paul-graham/|title=Paul Graham: Class of 2018|date=2018|website=[[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]]|access-date=April 15, 2025}}</ref>

==== {{anchor|2000s–2014}}2000–2014 ====
Olympic women's ice hockey champion [[Cassie Campbell]] joined ''Hockey Night in Canada'' in 2006 as a rink-side reporter, becoming (on October 14, 2006) the first female [[Color commentator|colour commentator]] on an ''HNIC'' broadcast.<ref>Immodest and Sensational: 150 Years of Canadian Women in Sport, p.90, M. Ann Hall, James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Toronto, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-55277-021-4}}</ref> Campbell substituted when [[Harry Neale]] was snowed in at his home in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/cassie-campbell-makes-history-as-hnic-analyst-1.610420|title=Cassie Campbell makes history as HNIC analyst|publisher=[[CBC Sports]]|date=October 14, 2006|access-date=2009-11-23}}</ref> ([[Helen Hutchinson]] was the first woman to appear on ''HNIC'' telecasts in 1974, when she conducted between-period interviews on the Wednesday night CTV telecasts.)

Trevor Pilling became ''HNIC'' [[executive producer]] on July 23, 2010,  replacing Sherali Najak.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Trevor Pilling named new executive producer of HNIC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/trevor-pilling-named-new-executive-producer-of-hnic-1.897926|publisher=[[Canadian Press]]|date=July 23, 2010}}</ref> In September 2012, Steve Sloan and Joel Darling became the show's executive producers when Pilling became the head of CBC Sports programming.

The CBC's deal with the NHL ran through the [[2013-14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], and was replaced in [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15]] by a sublicensing deal with [[Rogers Communications]]. The deal included  over-the-air broadcasts of games on the [[CBC Television]] network and digital broadcasts on CBCSports.ca. It was reached after controversy during the 2006–07 NHL season, when private broadcaster [[CTVglobemedia]] tried to acquire exclusive Canadian distribution rights to the NHL for its own networks (including broadcast network [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] and cable channels [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]]).<ref>{{cite web|author=Channel Canada|title=Bell Globemedia bidding $1.4B for TV hockey rights|url=http://www.channelcanada.com/Article1496.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224043156/http://channelcanada.com/Article1496.html|archive-date=December 24, 2010|access-date=2011-03-03|publisher=Channel Canada|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The CBC also produced ''Hockey Night in Canada Radio'', a daily radio program which premiered on October 1, 2007, on [[Sirius Satellite Radio]] channel 122 (also known as Sports Play-by-Play 1). Although the broadcaster called ''HNIC Radio'' a return "back to the radio airwaves" for ''HNIC'',<ref>{{cite web|title=CBC press release|url=http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/September2007/07/c6319.html|access-date=2011-02-25|publisher=Cnw.ca}}</ref> ''HNIC Radio'' was an NHL-oriented [[talk show]] with appearances by ''HNIC'' hosts and commentators; it did not cover games. After the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, the show moved to NHL Network Radio (Sirius channel 207 and XM channel 211).<ref>{{cite web|title=CBC Radio's Hockey Night in Canada Returns to Sirius Satellite|url=http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/cbc-radio-s-hockey-night-in-canada-returns-to-sirius-satellite/1000084000/?&er=NA|access-date=11 October 2014|website=Broadcaster Magazine}}</ref> Rogers did not take over national radio rights to the NHL until the 2015–16 season, but the CBC ended production of ''HNIC Radio'' for the 2014–15 season due to high production costs and conflicts with Rogers.<ref name=gandm-howcbclost />

=== 2014: Rogers takeover ===
{{Quote box |width=26% |align=right |quote=We close tonight with what I said back in '87, [my] first time around at the helm of this broadcast, "Here's to an endless summer, and here's to an early fall&nbsp;..." We will leave you congratulating the Los Angeles Kings with the music of Queen, and [we] bid you a good ''Hockey Night'', for now.|source=—[[Ron MacLean]], closing the last CBC-produced ''Hockey Night in Canada'' broadcast (June 13, 2014)<ref name=HockeyNight06132014>[http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockeynightincanada/theopens/video/#id=2464710618 "''Hockey Night'' Closing Montage,"] from CBCSports.ca, accessed 6/14/2014</ref>}}
Negotiating a new contract with the CBC, NHL commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] reportedly recognized the broadcaster's financial difficulties and offered a smaller package which would have consisted of a national doubleheader on Saturday nights (as opposed to regional coverage of multiple games), reduced playoff coverage, and the loss of digital rights and the All-Star Game. Rights to the remaining properties not covered under the CBC contract would have been offered to other broadcasters. However, [[CBC Sports]]' staff (including executive director [[Jeffrey Orridge]]) continued to insist on exclusivity for every Saturday-night game involving Canadian teams. The CBC was unable to reach a deal; the league reportedly aimed for its next round of Canadian television contracts to have a total value of at least $3.2 billion. [[BCE Inc.|BCE]] (owners of [[Bell Media]] and previous cable rights-holder [[The Sports Network|TSN]]) bid for sole national rights to the NHL, and attempted to contact the CBC about a partnership; the CBC Sports staff did not respond. [[Rogers Communications]] also made a bid of its own.<ref name=gandm-howcbclost />

On November 26, 2013, the NHL announced a 12-year deal with Rogers for exclusive Canadian television and digital media rights to all NHL broadcasts beginning with the [[2014-15 NHL season|2014–15 season]]; the deal was valued at $5.2 billion, twice as much as what [[NHL on NBC|NBC]] paid for its 2011 long-term contract with the league. The CBC sub-licensed a package of games from Rogers, allowing the network to continue airing ''Hockey Night in Canada'' for at least the first four seasons of the agreement (2014–15 through 2017–18).<ref name=cbc-presentation>{{cite web|title=CBC business presentation on Rogers deal|url=http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/_files/cbcrc/documents/proactive-disclosure/business-documents/nov-26-2013/1-hockey-agreement-with-rogers.pdf|publisher=CBC|access-date=October 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813232017/http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/_files/cbcrc/documents/proactive-disclosure/business-documents/nov-26-2013/1-hockey-agreement-with-rogers.pdf|archive-date=August 13, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The last CBC-produced ''Hockey Night'' broadcast aired on June 13, 2014, when the [[Los Angeles Kings]] clinched the [[Stanley Cup]] in a four-games-to-one [[2014 Stanley Cup Finals|final series]] over the [[New York Rangers]], ending with a montage set to [[Queen (band)|Queen's]] [[The Show Must Go On (Queen song)|"The Show Must Go On"]] which included season and playoff highlights interspersed with images and sounds from the CBC's six decades of NHL coverage.<ref>{{Citation|title=HNIC - Stanley Cup Finals - Closing Montage - June 14th 2014 (HD)| date=June 13, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsPG-JCwtHc|language=en|access-date=2021-11-21}}</ref>

The new season had a significant change in format for ''Hockey Night'', with games no longer split by region. The CBC was joined by Rogers' over-the-air [[Citytv]] network, the Sportsnet family of [[specialty channel]]s and (initially) [[FX Canada]], who aired other games nationally with the CBC and shared the ''Hockey Night in Canada'' brand. Decisions on network assignments for the games were made on a week-by-week basis, ensuring that viewers have live on-air access to every ''Hockey Night'' game.<ref name=cbcsports-rogers14>{{cite news|title=CBC partners with Rogers in landmark NHL rights deal|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/cbc-partners-with-rogers-in-landmark-nhl-rights-deal-1.2440326|work=CBC Sports|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref><ref name=HNIC20142015schedule>[http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hockey-night-in-canada-2014-15-broadcast-schedule/ ''Hockey Night in Canada'' 2014–15 Broadcast Schedule], from Sportsnet.ca, 6/22/2014</ref> The CBC continued to cover the [[NHL All-Star Game]], [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] and [[Stanley Cup Finals]], with the latter simulcast on a Rogers network if needed. The [[NHL Winter Classic]] aired in 2015 on the CBC, moving to Sportsnet the following year.<ref name="cbcsports-rogers14" /><ref name=gandm-whatitmeans>{{cite news|title=What the new Rogers-NHL deal means for Canadian hockey fans|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/what-does-the-new-rogers-deal-mean-for-hockey-fans/article15600779/|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=27 November 2013|location=Toronto|date=November 26, 2013}}</ref>

The CBC did not pay any rights fees to Rogers or the NHL, but Rogers assumed responsibility for production and advertising sales. Promotions for CBC programs are included on CBC simulcasts; Rogers paid the corporation for CBC production staff<ref name=gandm-shovedaside>{{cite news|title=Cherry's sidekick Ron MacLean is pushed further aside|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/shoalts-ron-maclean-cherrys-sidekick-is-kicked-further-aside/article20929813/|access-date=October 9, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail|date=October 3, 2014}}</ref> and rent for offices and Studio 41 of the [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]] for ''Hockey Night'' and [[NHL on Sportsnet|Sportsnet coverage]].<ref name=gandm-howcbclost>{{cite news|last1=Shoalts|first1=David|title=Hockey Night in Canada: How CBC lost it all|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/hockey-night-in-canada-how-cbc-lost-it-all/article21072643/|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=snet-500games>{{cite web|title=500-plus NHL games to air under Rogers deal|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nearly-500-nhl-games-to-air-under-rogers-deal/|work=Sportsnet.ca|publisher=Rogers Media|access-date=5 February 2014}}</ref> ''Hockey Night in Canada'' was a financial boon for [[CBC Television]], which received half of its total estimated advertising revenue from the broadcasts.<ref name=torstar-hugeblow>{{cite news|title=NHL deal with Rogers a huge blow to TSN and CBC: Mudhar|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_deal_with_rogers_a_huge_blow_to_tsn_and_cbc_mudhar.html|work=Toronto Star|access-date=26 November 2013|date=November 26, 2013|archive-date=November 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129144226/http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_deal_with_rogers_a_huge_blow_to_tsn_and_cbc_mudhar.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> To assign responsibility for televised content, compliance with regulatory guidelines and advertising to Rogers, the ''HNIC'' broadcasts are broadcast on a part-time television network owned by Rogers' Sportsnet subsidiary and affiliated with the CBC's English-language television stations (although CBC Television branding and continuity is still used on air). A licence for the arrangement was approved by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] in April 2015.<ref name=crtc-hniclicense>{{cite web|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-154|date=April 17, 2015|url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-154.htm|publisher=CRTC|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref>

The loss of NHL rights accompanied other reductions in CBC funding and revenue, leading the corporation to cut its budget, staff, and programming. In April 2014, the CBC decided not to compete for NHL or other professional-sports broadcast rights.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-to-cut-657-jobs-will-no-longer-compete-for-professional-sports-rights-1.2605504|title=CBC to cut 657 jobs, will no longer compete for professional sports rights|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=10 April 2014}}</ref> Among staff members laid off were the advertising sales staff who handled ''Hockey Night''.<ref name=gandm-howcbclost /> In an internal staff notification of the Rogers deal, CBC president [[Hubert T. Lacroix]] wrote that the arrangement with Rogers "may not be the ideal scenario" for the CBC but the network would have suffered a major blow to its prestige if it was excluded from NHL broadcasts. Lacroix said that the deal "is the right outcome for Canadian hockey fans", allowing ''Hockey Night in Canada'' to remain on the CBC for a wider audience at a low cost before the [[2015 Pan-American Games]] and [[2016 Summer Olympics]] (whose broadcast rights were owned by the broadcaster).<ref name=gandm-howcbclost /><ref name=CBCmemo>[http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/media-centre/2013/11/26/ Memo from CBC President/CEO Hubert T. Lacroix] dated 11/26/2013</ref> CBC staff called the agreement as a "structured exit" from NHL coverage if Rogers did not extend it.<ref name="cbc-presentation" />

Rogers' ''Hockey Night'' was initially guided by Scott Moore, appointed Rogers Media president of Sportsnet and [[NHL on Sportsnet|NHL properties]] in January 2014; Moore, with Rogers Media since 2010, was a former CBC Sports president.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rogers-media-taps-scott-moore-673587 "Rogers Media Taps Scott Moore to Lead Blockbuster NHL Coverage"] ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 1/23/2014</ref> Rogers reviewed on-air content and production of games and ancillary content, including announcers and other personnel.<ref name=globeandmail-advisor>{{cite news|title=How do you like your hockey? Rogers, NHL want to find out|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/how-do-you-watch-hockey-rogers-nhl-launch-listening-tour-to-find-out/article16695957/|access-date=July 15, 2014|work=The Globe & Mail|date=February 4, 2014}}</ref> ''Hockey Night''{{'}}s new look was revealed on March 10, 2014, when CBC personality [[George Stroumboulopoulos]] became studio host of ''Hockey Night'' and [[Citytv|Citytv's]] Sunday night ''Hometown Hockey'' package with Sportsnet's [[Daren Millard]] and [[Jeff Marek]]. Stroumboulopoulos, an alumnus of Toronto sports radio station [[CJCL]] and host of a [[George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight|CBC talk show]], was seen as an effort by Rogers to expand ''Hockey Night''{{'s}} appeal to a younger demographic.<ref name=gandm-george>{{cite news|title=Rogers betting Stroumboulopoulos can grow HNIC's appeal|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/cbcs-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada/article17394956/|access-date=October 5, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 10, 2014}}</ref>

Although Ron MacLean ceded hosting ''Hockey Night'' to Stroumboulopoulos, he remained with [[Don Cherry (ice hockey)|Don Cherry]] on the ''[[Coach's Corner]]'' segment and was the on-location host of Sportsnet's ''[[Hometown Hockey]]'' games.<ref name=cp-stroumohnicofficial>{{cite news|title=Stroumboulopoulos named 'Hockey Night in Canada' host|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/stroumboulopoulos-to-take-over-for-maclean-as-new-host-of-hockey-night-in-canada/article17390692/|access-date=10 March 2014|agency=Canadian Press|location=Toronto|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 10, 2014}}</ref><ref name=cbcn-georgenhl>{{cite news|title=George Stroumboulopoulos to host Hockey Night in Canada next season|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/george-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada-next-season-1.2566664|work=[[CBC News]]|access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=np-newhniclineup>{{cite web|title=George Stroumboulopoulos to host 'Hockey Night in Canada,' Don Cherry and Ron MacLean to remain 'cornerstones' of NHL coverage: Rogers|url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/03/10/george-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada-don-cherry-and-ron-maclean-to-remain-cornerstones-of-nhl-coverage-rogers/|work=National Post|access-date=11 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140311172340/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/03/10/george-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada-don-cherry-and-ron-maclean-to-remain-cornerstones-of-nhl-coverage-rogers/|archive-date=March 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Cherry, called "iconic" by Rogers president Keith Pelley, remained under contract to the CBC until he was released on November 11, 2019.<ref>[https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/Cherry+future+says+Rogers+president+Keith+Pelley/9903965/story.html "Don Cherry's future is up to him, says Rogers president Keith Pelley,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125834/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Cherry+future+says+Rogers+president+Keith+Pelley/9903965/story.html |date=July 14, 2014 }} from ''Ottawa Citizen'', 6/2/2014</ref> Several other CBC ''Hockey Night'' veterans continued in roles with ''HNIC'' and Rogers' NHL coverage, including game announcers [[Jim Hughson]] (who retired in 2021) and [[Bob Cole (announcer)|Bob Cole]] (who retired in 2019); reporters [[Elliotte Friedman]], [[Scott Oake]], and [[Cassie Campbell-Pascall]]; and analysts [[Glenn Healy]], [[Kelly Hrudey]], [[Craig Simpson]], [[Garry Galley]], and [[P. J. Stock]]. New hires included game announcers [[Dave Randorf]] and [[Paul Romanuk]].<ref name=sn-fullteam>{{cite web|title=Rogers unveils its full NHL play-by-play team|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/bob-cole-among-rogers-play-by-play-team-for-nhl/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref><ref name=np-hughson>{{cite news|title=Jim Hughson to lead play-by-play when Rogers takes over NHL rights next season|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/jim-hughson-to-lead-play-by-play-when-rogers-takes-over-nhl-rights-next-season|access-date=June 3, 2014|agency=National Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140603152235/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/06/03/jim-hughson-to-lead-play-by-play-when-rogers-takes-over-nhl-rights-next-season/|archive-date=June 3, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The CBC-Rogers agreement reduced the CBC's advertising revenue, which fell by 37 percent in the last quarter of 2014 from the previous year. Industry analysts reported that, despite the agreement's increased promotion of other CBC programming, the corporation might lose more advertising revenue during the Stanley Cup playoffs.<ref name="gandm-handcutts">{{cite news|title=CBC 'handcuffs' itself with decision to air Rogers' NHL playoff games|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/cbc-handcuffs-itself-with-decision-to-air-rogers-nhl-playoff-games/article23909844/|access-date=14 April 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref>

==== 2016–present ====
In June 2016, Rogers announced that George Stroumboulopoulos was leaving Sportsnet. Ron MacLean was reinstated as the studio host of ''Hockey Night''{{'s}} early game, in addition to his on-location role on ''Hometown Hockey''. David Amber was the late-game studio host.<ref name="torstar-stromboisout">{{cite web|title=Ron MacLean to replace Strombo on Hockey Night in Canada: Feschuk|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2016/06/19/ron-maclean-to-replace-strombo-on-hockey-night-in-canada-feschuk.html|website=Toronto Star|date=June 19, 2016|access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="sportsnet-macleanisback">{{cite web|title=Ron MacLean to host Hockey Night in Canada, with David Amber|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/ron-maclean-host-hockey-night-canada-david-amber/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref>

[[Bob Cole (sportscaster)|Bob Cole]] retired in April 2019, and Don Cherry was fired after a November 9 incident during his "Coach's Corner" for comments that suggested Canadian immigrants benefit from the sacrifices of veterans but do not wear [[Remembrance poppies]].

On June 5, 2020, Sportsnet announced that it had hired TSN commentator and former ''Hockey Night in Canada'' broadcaster [[Chris Cuthbert]].<ref name="thestar.com">{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Veteran commentator Chris Cuthbert joins Sportsnet's NHL broadcast team|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2020/06/05/veteran-commentator-chris-cuthbert-joins-sportsnets-nhl-broadcast-team.html|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Toronto Star|language=en}}</ref> Jim Hughson retired before the [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=The Athletic Staff|title=Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Hughson announces retirement|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4198599/2021/09/21/hall-of-fame-broadcaster-jim-hughson-announces-retirement/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=The Athletic|date=September 23, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> ''Hockey Night'' features, until 2019, included the "Coach's Corner" segment during the first intermission of the first game.<ref name="cp-strombo">{{cite web|title=George Stroumboulopoulos to host 'Hockey Night in Canada' when Rogers takes control of iconic show: report|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/george-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada-when-rogers-takes-control-of-iconic-show-report|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140310103107/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/03/09/george-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada-when-rogers-takes-control-of-iconic-show-report/|archive-date=March 10, 2014|access-date=10 March 2014|publisher=Canadian Press|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Coverage overview ==

=== Regular season ===

==== {{anchor|Pregame show}}Pre-game show ====
''Hockey Night in Canada'' typically begins at 6:30&nbsp;p.m. Eastern time (a little more than 30 minutes before the first game's opening faceoff) with ''[[Hockey Central|Hockey Central Saturday]]'', a [[pre-game show]]. Ron MacLean hosts ''Hockey Central Saturday'' with analysts [[Kelly Hrudey]], [[Elliotte Friedman]], [[Kevin Bieksa]], and [[Jennifer Botterill]].<ref name="aa-newhnic">{{cite web|title=The "new" 'Hockey Night in Canada': Much of the same, for better or worse|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/new-hockey-night-canada-much-better-worse.html|website=Awful Announcing|date=October 12, 2014|access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref>

==== Game 1 ====
[[File:HNIC-Old.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|alt=Old Hockey Night in Canada logo, a black puck and white stick on a blue background inside a black-bordered circle|The ''Hockey Night in Canada'' logo, used until 1998 on the CBC and 2004 on [[Ici Radio-Canada Télé|Radio-Canada]]]]
The first game of the Saturday night [[Doubleheader (television)|doubleheader]] typically originates in [[Eastern Canada]], beginning at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). Since [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]], [[Chris Cuthbert]], [[Craig Simpson]], and Kyle Bukauskas serve as the lead broadcast team, primarily calling the CBC [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] broadcast. Other Eastern Canada games aired on [[Citytv]] are called by the secondary team of [[John Bartlett (sportscaster)|John Bartlett]], [[Garry Galley]], and Shawn Mackenzie. When three or more early games involve Canadian teams, Sportsnet uses its regional announcers for those broadcasts. From 2008 to 2020, [[Jim Hughson]] was the lead play-by-play voice of ''Hockey Night in Canada'' until his retirement on September 21, 2021; Hughson only called national [[Vancouver Canucks]] home games during the [[2020–21 NHL season|previous season]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 21, 2021|title=Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Hughson announces retirement|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4198599/2021/09/21/hall-of-fame-broadcaster-jim-hughson-announces-retirement/|work=The Athletic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Patrick|date=January 15, 2021|title=Canucks Notebook: Höglander keeps late sister in his heart, broadcasters stick close to home|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-notebook-hoglander-keeps-late-sister-in-his-heart-broadcasters-stick-close-to-home|access-date=January 21, 2021|website=The Province}}</ref> Before the 2014–15 season, additional games involving Canadian teams were split to air regionally on CBC stations; [[Winnipeg Jets]] games were often seen in [[Central Canada]], and [[Ottawa Senators]] games were seen in the Ottawa area and Eastern Canada.

During the 2015–16 season, the second-most-important game (typically featuring either the Jets, the Senators or the Montreal Canadiens) was allocated to Citytv. Sportsnet also sometimes simulcast the CBC's or Citytv's featured games, and broadcasters (of teams) regionally contracted to Sportsnet as needed. Although second-tier games were shown on Citytv during the inaugural season, these games were later moved to Sportsnet (with Citytv sometimes airing all-U.S. games or simulcasting the CBC game) to encourage pay-television subscriptions.<ref name="gazette-watchinglive">{{cite news|last1=Faguy|first1=Steve|title=Watching live sports online can be frustrating, even if you're willing to pay|url=https://montrealgazette.com/business/watching-live-sports-online-can-be-frustrating-even-if-youre-willing-to-pay?__lsa=6bef-277a|access-date=10 February 2016|work=Montreal Gazette}}</ref><ref name="faguy-snadmits">{{cite web|last1=Faguy|first1=Steve|title=Sportsnet admits it's using Canadiens Saturday night games as subscription bait|date=February 6, 2016 |url=http://blog.fagstein.com/2016/02/06/sportsnet-habs-hnic/|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref>

Until the end of the first period on November 9, 2019, MacLean hosted "Coach's Corner"; the segment featured former [[NHL Coach of the Year]] Don Cherry.<ref name="theglobeandmail.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-maclean-calls-first-hockey-night-without-cherry-the-end-of-an-era/|title=MacLean calls first "Hockey Night" without Cherry the "end of an era"|publisher=theglobeandmail.com|date=November 16, 2019}}</ref><ref name="globalnews.ca">{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6179202/ron-maclean-don-cherry-hockey-night-in-canada/|title=Ron MacLean addresses viewers in first Hockey Night in Canada without Don Cherry|publisher=globalnews.ca|date=November 16, 2019}}</ref> Cherry analyzed the first period(s) of the game(s) in progress, expressed his opinions about issues affecting the sport (or the league), and gave tips on various points of hockey; MacLean was Cherry's [[Foil (narrative)|foil]]. "Coach's Corner" was followed by highlights of other evening games. MacLean also hosts "Saturday Headlines", the second-intermission segment, with Hrudey, Friedman, Bieska, and Botterill. The segment usually focuses on the previous week's NHL news, along with highlights and analysis of the games in progress.

Until November 9, 2019, after the "three stars" selection of the first game(s), and before the face-off of Game 2, MacLean and Cherry return to give updates on scores and highlights from around the league. The commentators for Game 2 preview the upcoming contest. Since then, the second-intermission crew return to give updates on scores and highlights from around the league.

==== {{anchor|Cherry's removal from ''Hockey Night in Canada'' and end of ''Coach's Corner''}}Cherry's removal from ''Hockey Night in Canada'' and end of "Coach's Corner" ====
On the November 9, 2019 "Coach's Corner", Cherry suggested that Canadian immigrants benefit from the sacrifices of veterans without wearing [[remembrance poppies]]: "You people that come here&nbsp;... you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that! These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada! These guys paid the biggest price."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/online-backlash-against-don-cherry-for-comments-on-immigrants-and-remembrance-day|title='You people': Don Cherry under fire for claiming new immigrants don't wear Remembrance Day poppies |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2019-11-10|access-date=2019-11-10}}</ref> The [[Royal Canadian Legion]], Canada's poppy distributor, denounced Cherry's statement: "Mr. Cherry's personal opinion was hurtful, divisive and in no way condoned by the Legion."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Temming |first1=Stan |title=Don Cherry's racist rant doesn't receive support of Royal Canadian Legion |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/don-cherrys-racist-rant-on-coachs-corner-doesnt-receive-support-of-royal-canadian-legion-060809573.html |access-date=12 November 2020 |publisher=Yahoo Sports |date=12 November 2019}}</ref> Sportsnet apologized for his remarks, stating that they were discriminatory and offensive and "do not represent our values and what we stand for as a network."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6151647/don-cherry-immigrants-poppies/|title='You love our way of life': Don Cherry criticized for comments on immigrants, poppies|website=Global News|access-date=2019-11-10}}</ref> His co-host, Ron MacLean, tweeted regret for giving a thumbs-up and for allowing Cherry to make the comments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6151647/don-cherry-immigrants-poppies/|title=Ron MacLean apologizes for not challenging Don Cherry's 'hurtful and prejudiced' comments|newspaper=Global News|last=Jackson|first=Hannah|date=2019-10-10|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> The NHL released a statement on Cherry's comments: "The comments made last night were offensive and contrary to the values we believe in."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-issues-statement-about-don-cherry-s-comments-1.1395657|title=NHL issues statement on Cherry's comments|newspaper=TSN|date=2019-10-10|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> Cherry later told the ''[[Toronto Sun]]'' that he would not apologize: "I have had my say."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-no-apology-from-don-cherry-on-hnic-poppy-comments|title=WARMINGTON: No apology from Don Cherry on HNIC poppy comments|work=Toronto Sundate=2019-11-11|access-date=2019-11-11}}</ref>

The [[Canadian Broadcast Standards Council]] (CBSC) said that its internal systems was overloaded by a high number of complaints.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/high-volume-of-cherry-complaints-has-cbsc-at-limit-of-processing-capacity|title=High volume of Cherry complaints has CBSC at limit of processing capacity|work=National Post|date=2019-11-11|access-date=2019-11-11|last1=Strong |first1=Gregory }}</ref> Two days later, on [[Remembrance Day|November 11]], Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced that Cherry had been fired: "Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night's broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/don-cherry-fired-after-scolding-immigrants-who-don-t-wear-poppies-1.4680203|title=Don Cherry fired after scolding immigrants who don't wear poppies|website=CTV News|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=2019-11-11|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112022611/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/don-cherry-fired-after-scolding-immigrants-who-don-t-wear-poppies-1.4680203|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cherry said to a ''Toronto Sun'' reporter, "I know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honour our fallen soldiers&nbsp;... I would have liked to continue doing 'Coach's Corner'. The problem is if I have to watch everything I say, it isn't 'Coach's Corner{{'"}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-don-cherry-fired-over-controversial-poppy-comment|title=WARMINGTON: Don Cherry fired over controversial poppy comment|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> He later said that if he had to do it again, he would have said "everybody".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6160099/don-cherry-defends-comments-hockey-night-in-canada/|title=Don Cherry defends Hockey Night in Canada comments but says he would have 'used different words'|website=Global News|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/i-dont-regret-a-thing-don-cherry-speaks-out-on-his-firing-and-ron-maclean/|title='I don't regret a thing': Don Cherry speaks out on his firing and Ron MacLean {{!}} CTV News|website=www.ctvnews.ca|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=2019-11-12|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112145502/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/i-don-t-regret-a-thing-don-cherry-speaks-out-on-his-firing-and-ron-maclean-1.4680203|url-status=live}}</ref> The following Saturday, MacLean reflected on the incident during ''Hockey Night in Canada'' (his first without Cherry) and announced the end of "Coach's Corner".<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/><ref name="globalnews.ca"/>

==== Game 2 ====
The second game airs at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT, 8 p.m. MT) on the CBC and Sportsnet, originating from a Mountain or Pacific Time Zone city and usually featuring at least one of [[Western Canada]]'s three teams: the [[Calgary Flames]], [[Edmonton Oilers]] or [[Vancouver Canucks]]. Regular-season games rarely last longer than three hours since the introduction of quicker [[faceoff]]s, and every double-header game is seen in its entirety.

Since 2024–25, for Western Canada games, [[Jack Michaels]], [[Louie DeBrusk]], and [[Scott Oake]] are the lead broadcast team, while from 2016 to 2022, [[David Amber]] took over from MacLean as host. Like the early games, when at least two Western Canadian teams played, Sportsnet assigned regional announcers to call the games. From [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13]] until early in the [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20 season]], the first intermission of Game 2 contained a short analysis segment with Ron MacLean and Don Cherry followed by "Inside the Game" and "Scoreboard Saturday" with highlights of earlier games.<ref name=gandm-morecherry>{{cite news|title=CBC's plan to win back hockey fans – more Don Cherry, social media|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/cbcs-plan-to-win-back-hockey-fans---more-don-cherry-social-media/article7462224/|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2013-01-17|location=Toronto|date=January 18, 2013}}</ref>

Game 2 was followed on the CBC from [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]] to 2014–15 by ''After Hours'', a post-game show hosted by Oake and DeBrusk from the game's arena. The program featured a wrap-up of the night's games and a lengthy interview with (and viewer questions to) a player or coach, usually from one of the game's teams. ''After Hours'' was revived for 2016–17, and is shown on Sportsnet and the CBC.<ref name="yahoo-afterhours">{{cite web|title=Hockey Night In Canada goes back to the tried and true as Rogers tries to reverse ratings drop|url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/nhl-143743695.html|website=Yahoo! Sports Canada|date=October 7, 2016 |access-date=9 October 2016}}</ref>

Only on rare occasions has ''HNIC'' broadcast regular-season games involving two U.S.-based teams, and this has usually been due to exceptional circumstances. Special occasions have included [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s final game in 1999 (which actually took place on a Sunday afternoon), the retirement of [[Steve Yzerman]]'s jersey in 2007, [[Sidney Crosby]]'s comeback game in [[2011–12 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh]] against the [[2011–12 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] in 2011, and early editions of the league's major outdoor games (such as the [[NHL Winter Classic|Winter Classic]]). However, due to their decline in popularity, outdoor games are no longer shown on the CBC or branded ''HNIC'' unless a Canadian team is involved.

=== Playoffs ===
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2022}}
The CBC provides extensive [[Stanley Cup playoffs|Stanley Cup playoff]] coverage every spring (focusing on Canadian teams), and has exclusive English-language rights to the Stanley Cup Finals. Its playoff coverage and rights to the Finals continue under the Rogers sublicensing agreement, with coverage shared with Sportsnet and all Canadian-based teams' series being shown on CBC. Due to rights agreements with Rogers, playoff games are not available to livestream on the CBC Gem or CBC Sports online platforms, even if the broadcast airs on CBC Television.

==== {{anchor|Stanley Cup Finals coverage}}Stanley Cup Finals ====

In [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals|1972]], ''Hockey Night in Canada'' moved playoff coverage from the CBC to [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] to avoid a lengthy [[National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians|NABET]] strike against the CBC. [[Bob Cole (sportscaster)|Bob Cole]], Dan Kelly and [[Jim Robson]] shared the play-by-play for the CBC's [[1980 Stanley Cup Finals|1980]] coverage.

In 1986, the CBC televised games one and two of the [[1986 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] in [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]] and [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]; it  televised games three, four and five nationally. When [[NHL on CTV|CTV]] televised games one and two, both games were [[Blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]] in Montreal and Calgary.

The first game four (May 24) of the [[1988 Stanley Cup Finals]] was hampered by fog before a power outage caused its cancellation with the [[1987–88 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] and [[1987–88 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] tied, 3–3. The CBC televised that game and the "official" fourth game (on May 26), which the Oilers won 6–3.

=== ''Hockey Day in Canada'' ===
{{anchor| Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada}}
Since 2000, the CBC has aired an annual ''Hockey Day in Canada'' to celebrate the game. The afternoon broadcast of hockey-related features leads up to a triple-header of NHL games with the seven Canadian teams: the [[Calgary Flames]], [[Edmonton Oilers]], [[Montreal Canadiens]], [[Ottawa Senators]], [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], [[Vancouver Canucks]], and [[Winnipeg Jets]]. The 2008 edition featured four games which included two American teams (Detroit and Colorado) with the six Canadian teams, due to the NHL's schedule format. [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] travel restrictions in 2021 led to the Edmonton Oilers missing out; seven teams (an odd number) were in the temporary [[North Division (NHL)|North Division]].

The broadcast includes [[Live television|live]] segments from smaller communities across the country, and features panel discussions on issues facing "Canada's game" at the amateur and professional levels. Usually telecast on a Saturday in mid-February, it was shown in early January due to the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]] and [[2006 Winter Olympics]]; the 2007 event was also held in January (January 13). The 2010 broadcast was on January 30 because of the February [[2010 Winter Olympics]], and the 2014 event was on January 18 due to the February [[2014 Winter Olympics]].

''Hockey Day in Canada'' has included world-record all-night [[pick-up game]]s from [[Red Deer, Alberta]] (in 2001) and [[Windsor, Nova Scotia]] (2002). Viewers saw the games, without commentary, after the CBC ended regular programming for the night.

''HDIC'' continued under the Rogers agreement, with [[Scotiabank]] the sponsor. Since Sportsnet also holds national broadcast rights to the [[Canadian Hockey League]], the 2015 edition included a prime-time [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]] (QMJHL) game between the hosting [[Halifax Mooseheads]] and the [[Cape Breton Screaming Eagles]].<ref name=sn-chlcontract>{{cite web|title=Tomorrow's Stars Today: Fans To Get More Games, More Coverage This CHL Season on Sportsnet|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/tomorrows-stars-today-fans-to-get-more-games-more-coverage-this-chl-season-on-sportsnet/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=sn-hdic2015 />

==== Broadcast locations ====
* 2000: [[Toronto]], Ontario (February 19)
* 2001: [[Red Deer, Alberta]] (February 24)
* 2002: [[Windsor, Nova Scotia]] (January 5)
* 2003: [[Iqaluit]], [[Nunavut]] (February 15)
* 2004: [[Shaunavon, Saskatchewan]] (February 21)
* 2005: No broadcast, due to the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]]
* 2006: [[Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador]] (January 7)
* 2007: [[Nelson, British Columbia]] (January 13)
* 2008: [[Winkler, Manitoba]] (February 9)
* 2009: [[Campbellton, New Brunswick]] (February 21)
* 2010: [[Stratford, Ontario]] (January 30)
* 2011: [[Whitehorse, Yukon]] (February 12)
* 2012: [[Prince Edward Island]] (February 11)
* 2013: [[Peterborough, Ontario]] (February 9)
* 2014: [[Lloydminster]], Alberta/Saskatchewan (January 18)
* 2015: [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] (February 14)<ref name=sn-hdic2015>{{cite web|title=Halifax to Host 2015 Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/halifax-to-host-2015-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref>
* 2016: [[Kamloops, British Columbia]] (February 6)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/kamloops-bc-to-host-2016-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada/|title=Kamloops, BC to Host 2016 Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada - Sportsnet.ca}}</ref>
* 2017: [[Kenora, Ontario]] (February 18)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/2017-scotiabank-hockey-day-canada-event-schedule-announced/|title = 2017 Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada event schedule announced - Sportsnet.ca}}</ref>
* 2018: [[Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador]] (January 20)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sprtsnt.ca/2syxtal|title=Corner Brook to Host 18th Annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in 2018, on Sportsnet &#124; Sportsnet Media Centre|access-date=June 23, 2017|archive-date=November 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101010734/http://media.sportsnet.ca/2017/06/corner-brook-to-host-18th-annual-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada-in-2018-on-sportsnet/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2019: [[Swift Current, Saskatchewan]] (February 9)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://media.sportsnet.ca/2018/05/swift-current-to-host-19th-annual-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada-in-2019-on-sportsnet/|title=Swift Current to Host 19th Annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in 2019, on Sportsnet &#124; Sportsnet Media Centre|access-date=May 30, 2018|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920214802/https://media.sportsnet.ca/2018/05/swift-current-to-host-19th-annual-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada-in-2019-on-sportsnet/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2020: [[Yellowknife]], [[Northwest Territories]] (February 8)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/yellowknife-host-hockey-day-canada-2020/|title = Yellowknife to host Hockey Day in Canada in 2020 - Sportsnet.ca}}</ref>
* 2021: Canada (February 13 - Not site-specific due to the pandemic)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://about.rogers.com/news-ideas/a-day-for-all-canadians21st-annual-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada-embraces-inclusion-february-13-on-sportsnet/#:~:text=21st%20Annual%20Scotiabank%20Hockey,Inclusion%2C%20February%2013%20on%20Sportsnet|title=A Day for All Canadians:21st Annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Embraces Inclusion, February 13 on Sportsnet|date=February 11, 2021}}</ref>
* 2022: [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]], Ontario (January 29)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scotiabank|title=22nd Annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Endeavours to Break Down Hockey's Systemic Barriers, Leveraging Hockey Boards as Symbols of Inclusion|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/22nd-annual-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada-endeavours-to-break-down-hockey-s-systemic-barriers-leveraging-hockey-boards-as-symbols-of-inclusion-847644537.html|access-date=2022-01-31|website=www.newswire.ca|language=en}}</ref>
* 2023: [[Owen Sound]], Ontario (January 21)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.owensound.ca/en/exploring/hockey-day-2022.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126144313/https://www.owensound.ca/en/exploring/hockey-day-2022.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 26, 2021 | title=Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2023 | date=March 9, 2023 }}</ref>
* 2024: [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], British Columbia (January 20)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/hockey-day-in-canada-to-be-held-in-victoria-b-c-in-2024/ | title=Hockey Day in Canada to be held in Victoria, B.C., in 2024 | date=June 5, 2023 }}</ref>
*2025: [[Canmore, Alberta|Canmore]], Alberta (January 18)<ref>{{cite web | title=Sportsnet Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada | date=January 8, 2025 | url=https://www.rogerssportsandmedia.com/the-latest/sportsnet-celebrates-25th-anniversary-of-scotiabank-hockey-day-in-canada-live-on-january-18-from-canmore-ab/ }}</ref>
*2026: [[Moncton]], [[New Brunswick]] (January 17)<ref>{{cite web | title=City of Moncton to Host Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on Sportsnet &#124; City of Moncton | url=https://www.moncton.ca/en/news-notices/city-moncton-host-scotiabank-hockey-day-canada-sportsnet }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Moncton to host Hockey Day in Canada in 2026 | date=May 27, 2025 | url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/moncton-to-host-hockey-day-in-canada-in-2026/ }}</ref>

When the 2005 edition was cancelled, [[The Sports Network|TSN]] aired ''Hockey Lives Here: Canada's Game''. The telecast, based at the [[World Pond Hockey Championships]] in [[Plaster Rock, New Brunswick]], featured NHL players playing an [[exhibition game]] to raise money for charities in [[Hamilton, Ontario]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Team Records on ''Hockey Day''
|-
! Team !! W !! L !! T !! OTL
|-
! Calgary Flames
| 11
| 8
| 1
| 4
|-
! Edmonton Oilers
| 9
| 11
| 0
| 3
|-
! Montreal Canadiens
| 12
| 10
| 0
| 2
|-
! Ottawa Senators
| 11
| 11
| 0
| 2
|-
! Toronto Maple Leafs
| 11
| 9
| 0
| 4
|-
! Vancouver Canucks
| 13
| 7
| 1
| 3
|-
! Winnipeg Jets
| 10
| 3
| 0
| 0
|-
! Anaheim Ducks
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! Boston Bruins
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! Chicago Blackhawks
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
|-
! Colorado Avalanche
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 0
|-
! Detroit Red Wings
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 2
|-
! Nashville Predators
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
|-
! New York Rangers
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! Pittsburgh Penguins
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! San Jose Sharks
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
|-
! St. Louis Blues
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
|-
! Tampa Bay Lightning
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
|}

=== Lockout programming ===
The CBC replaced ''Hockey Night in Canada'' with ''[[Movie Night in Canada]]'', a block of Saturday-night movies hosted by Ron MacLean from [[Junior ice hockey|junior-hockey]] venues, during the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]]. A labour agreement was reached for the [[2005–06 NHL season]]. ''Movie Night in Canada'' was revived in 2020, when league play was suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Debra Yeo, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2020/03/17/cbc-turns-hockey-night-in-canada-into-movie-night-in-canada.html "CBC turns 'Hockey Night in Canada' into 'Movie Night in Canada'"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', March 17, 2020.</ref> During the [[1994–95 NHL lockout|1994–95]] and [[2012–13 NHL lockout|2012–13]] lockouts, the CBC aired classic ''Hockey Night in Canada'' games.

=== {{anchor|Additional language coverage}}Other languages ===
''Hockey Night in Canada'' has occasionally aired [[Altcast|alternate broadcasts]] of games in Canada's [[Languages of Canada#Non-official languages used in Canada|minority languages]], primarily as part of ''Hockey Day in Canada''. ''HDIC'' simulcast a 2007 game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks on the [[TLN (TV channel)|TLN]] cable channel in [[Italian language|Italian]], with features and commentary by soccer host Alf De Blasis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=63954&issue=01052007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721215601/http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=63954&issue=01052007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |title=Hockey Night In Canada Goes Italian |access-date=2007-01-10 }}</ref> It televised a 2010 game in the [[Inuit]] language [[Inuktitut]], with commentary by [[CBC North]]'s Charlie Panigoniak and Annie Ford,<ref name=nyt-hnicpunjabi /><ref name=cbc-hdicinuktuk>{{cite web|title=Hockey Day in Canada will broadcast in Inuktitut|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-day-in-canada-will-broadcast-in-inuktitut-1.957535|website=CBC Sports|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> and games have been presented in [[Plains Cree language|Cree]], [[Hindi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Mandarin Chinese]] and [[Cantonese]].<ref name=nyt-hnicpunjabi /><ref name=hnic-mandarin />

The CBC broadcast one series per round during the [[2008 Stanley Cup playoffs]] in Mandarin, and added a regular-season schedule of games in Punjabi (Canada's third- and fifth-most-spoken languages, after English and French)<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 5 languages spoken in Canada |url=https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/newsletter/2018/top-5-languages-spoken-canada |publisher=Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages |access-date=20 March 2022 |date=26 March 2018}}</ref> on the network's website and some cable and satellite providers. It suspended the Punjabi broadcasts just before the 2010–11 season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/article/871865--cbc-cuts-hockey-night-in-punjabi |title=CBC cuts Hockey Night in Punjabi |date=October 6, 2010 |access-date=2010-10-24 |location=Toronto |work=The Star |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022154650/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/article/871865--cbc-cuts-hockey-night-in-punjabi |url-status=dead }}</ref> but coverage was restored for the 2013 season with a new sponsorship deal.<ref name=nyt-hnicpunjabi>{{cite news|title=A Punjabi Broadcast Draws In New Hockey Fans|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/sports/hockey/chak-de-goal-a-punjabi-show-draws-new-hockey-fans.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=29 November 2013|first=David|last=Sax|date=April 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name=hnic-mandarin>{{cite news|title=It's Hockey Night in Mandarin|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2008/04/09/its_hockey_night_in_mandarin.html|access-date=28 September 2014|work=Toronto Star|date=9 April 2008}}</ref> 

With the transition to the Rogers contract, the Punjabi broadcasts moved to Rogers' multicultural [[Omni Television]] stations as ''Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition''.<ref name="rogers-omninhl">{{cite web|title=Canadians to Experience NHL Content in 22 Languages, This Season on OMNI Television|url=http://rogersmediatv.ca/pr_detail.php?id=1108|publisher=Rogers Media|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-date=October 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015161211/http://rogersmediatv.ca/pr_detail.php?id=1108|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="gandm-hnicnewgame">{{cite news|last1=Bradshaw|first1=James|title=Rogers' Hockey Night in Canada will be a whole new game for viewers|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/canadians-prepare-for-more-game-coverage-storytelling-with-new-nhl-season/article20930976/?page=all|access-date=October 12, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref>

[[Harnarayan Singh]]'s Punjabi call of the game-winning [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] goal by [[Nick Bonino]] during the first game of the [[2016 Stanley Cup Finals]] went [[viral video|viral]].<ref name="Singh">{{cite web|last1=Singh|first1=Harnarayan|title=Hockey Night in Canada, with Mr. Chapared Shot|url=http://theplayerstribune.com/harnarayan-singh-hockey-night-in-canada-with-mr-chapared-shot/|website=The Players' Tribune|access-date=February 23, 2017|date=February 22, 2017}}</ref> Penguins head coach [[Mike Sullivan (ice hockey)|Mike Sullivan]], who showed footage of the call to the team as part of a video recap before game two, called it "entertaining".<ref name="torstar-punjabi">{{cite web|title=Hockey Night in Punjabi goal calls garner plenty of attention|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2016/06/05/hockey-night-in-punjabi-goal-calls-garner-plenty-of-attention.html|website=Toronto Star|date=June 5, 2016|access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="boninopunjabi">{{cite web|title=Bonino, Penguins embrace HNIC Punjabi's 'spectacular' goal call|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/bonino-penguins-embrace-hnic-punjabis-spectacular-goal-call/|website=Sportsnet.ca|publisher=Rogers Media|access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="vsun-punjabi">{{cite web|title=Hockey Night goes viral — in Punjabi|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/hockey-night-goes-viral-in-punjabi|website=Vancouver Sun|access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref> Singh was invited to Pittsburgh to join the Penguins' Stanley Cup celebrations.<ref name="Singh" /> On November 30, 2016, Singh began to also participate in English-language broadcasts for Sportsnet.<ref name="cbcnews-singhenglish">{{cite web|title=Harnarayan Singh makes English debut in NHL broadcast from Calgary|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/harnarayan-singh-english-punjabi-nhl-commentator-1.3875319|website=CBC News|access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Aboriginal Peoples Television Network]] (APTN) began to air a package of selected ''Hockey Night in Canada'' games in Cree; the network had previously sub-licensed a package of games from the former ''Hometown Hockey'' package in 2019. In 2025, the channel also added Inuktitut broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Laskaris |first1=Adam |date=23 December 2021 |title=National Hockey League broadcasts in Cree are back in the New Year |url=https://windspeaker.com/news/sports/national-hockey-league-broadcasts-cree-are-back-new-year |access-date=20 March 2022 |website=Windspeaker |publisher=Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2019 |title=Sportsnet, APTN Set to Deliver First Cree-Language NHL Broadcast on March 24 |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/03/19/sportsnet-aptn-set-to-deliver-first-cree-language-nhl-broadcast-on-march-24/ |access-date=2019-03-23 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Fournier |first1=Ariel |last2=Kurtz |first2=Rod |title=Hockey night in Cree: Announcers preparing for historic NHL broadcast Sunday |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/hockey-night-in-cree-1.5064379 |access-date=2019-03-24 |website=CBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheatle |first=Tiar |date=2025-01-18 |title=NHL hockey on APTN will soon feature Inuktitut |url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/hockey-night-in-cree-and-inuktitut-starts-soon-on-aptn/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=APTN News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== French ====
{{Main|La Soirée du hockey}}

The CBC's [[French language|French]] sister network, [[Ici Radio-Canada Télé]] (then known as Télévision de Radio-Canada), aired {{lang|fr|cat=no|[[La Soirée du hockey]]}} with [[Montreal Canadiens]] games on Saturday evenings. The network had also aired [[Quebec Nordiques]] and [[Ottawa Senators]] games occasionally during the regular season (if the Canadiens were not playing that night) and the Stanley Cup Finals.

During the [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]], [[Réseau des sports|RDS]] secured exclusive French-language rights to the NHL. The deal, negotiated with the Canadiens rather than the NHL, was meant to ensure a consistent home for all Canadiens games. Radio-Canada did not bid for the rights, saying that it could not devote so much airtime to hockey. The announcement angered [[Minister of Canadian Heritage|Heritage Minister]] [[Sheila Copps]], who suggested that the network was violating its licence conditions by not airing {{lang|fr|La Soirée du hockey}}. When Radio-Canada carried {{lang|fr|La Soirée du hockey}}, play-by-play announcers included [[René Lecavalier]], [[Richard Garneau]], and [[Claude Quenneville]].

Radio-Canada reached an agreement to produce the Saturday-night games as {{lang|fr|La Soirée du hockey}}, simulcast on Radio-Canada and RDS. The agreement was terminated after the 2004 playoffs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=86384&hubname= |title=Habs Games to be Pulled from Airwaves |access-date=2007-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312051111/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=86384&hubname= |archive-date=March 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> but the RDS-produced replacement ({{lang|fr|Le Hockey du samedi soir}}) continued to be simulcast on Radio-Canada outside Quebec{{snd}}where RDS has limited distribution{{snd}}through the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]]. Radio-Canada stopped simulcasting RDS broadcasts in [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]], and Rogers sold the French-language rights to [[TVA Sports]].

== Availability outside Canada ==
When ''HNIC'' was on radio, it was broadcast over several powerful CBC [[clear-channel station]]s whose nighttime signals reached much of the northern United States; the games had a following in [[Boston]], [[Chicago]], [[Detroit]], and [[New York City|New York]], which also had NHL teams at the time. [[Foster Hewitt]] acknowledged the listeners in his opening greeting, "Hello Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland" (before [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] joined Canada in 1949; the line is immortalized in the opening montage of today's ''Hockey Night'' telecasts). This continued into the television era, waning in recent years with the expansion of local-team TV coverage on [[regional sports network]]s; some [[C band (IEEE)|C-band]] satellite dishes, however, can still receive CBC over-the-air feeds. U.S. [[cable television]] outlets near the [[Canada–United States border|international border]] (including [[Metro Detroit]], [[Seattle]], [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], [[Burlington, Vermont]] and [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan]]) typically carry a nearby CBC affiliate on their systems, although some systems carry a non-regional station). CBC stations are generally carried within about {{cvt|150|mi|km}} of the border, and are not [[blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]].

During the 2008–09 season, ''Hockey Night''{{'s}} main games were simulcast weekly in the United States on [[NHL Network (American TV channel)|NHL Network]] with pre- and post-game shows. If U.S.-based teams appear in these games, the telecast is blacked out in the markets of the participating teams or is televised by the U.S. team's local broadcaster. During the 2009–10 season, only the first game of the ''HNIC'' doubleheader was simulcast live on NHL Network; the second game and the post-game ''After Hours'' program was shown Sunday on [[tape delay (broadcasting)|tape delay]]; the only exception was ''Hockey Day in Canada''. Since the Rogers takeover, ''HNIC'' on NHL Network carries games regardless of broadcaster (the CBC or a Rogers network).

''[[NHL Center Ice]]'' offers some ''Hockey Night in Canada'' games at the same time as the CBC broadcast, usually regional ''Hockey Night'' games from Ottawa or Montreal. ''Center Ice'' generally shows the 7&nbsp;p.m. ET games, because the late games are usually national.

From 2006 to 2021, the [[NHL on NBC|NBC networks]] (originally [[NHL on Versus|OLN and Versus]]) simulcast CBC coverage of some games (generally first- and second-round matchups from Western Canada) instead of using their own crews and announcers. During the early 1990s, [[NHL on SportsChannel America|SportsChannel America]] similarly covered the Stanley Cup playoffs. Versus and [[NBCSN]], its later incarnation, continued to use CBC and Sportsnet feeds to augment its own playoff coverage. All regular season games broadcast under the HNIC brand not on NHL Network are now{{When|date=November 2025}} available on [[ESPN+]] (in tandem with regional feeds involving games with U.S.-based teams), as part of parent company [[ESPN]]'s 7-year agreement with the NHL. [[Blackout_(broadcasting)#MLB/NHL_blackout_policies|Blackout]] restrictions will{{When|date=November 2025}} apply for all games.

''Hockey Night in Canada'' is also broadcast live (and occasionally as-live) in the United Kingdom and Ireland on [[Viaplay]]. Although the pre- and post-game segments are not included, both games and the segments between periods are shown. ''Hockey Night in Canada'' was also seen in other European markets on ESPN America, distributed on cable and satellite platforms until 2013 (when ESPN America closed) Hockey Night in Canada is now broadcast in the UK and Ireland on Premier Sports now (Viaplay Sports in the UK). Until its closure in 2014, [[Canadian Forces Radio and Television]] rebroadcast ''HNIC'' games to [[Canadian Forces]] members overseas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/CFRT/tvguide_e.asp|title=CFPSA – PSP – Canadian Forces Radio and Television (CFRT)|publisher=[[Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency]]|access-date=2008-11-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229163431/http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/CFRT/tvguide_e.asp|archive-date=December 29, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Announcers ==
{{Main|List of Hockey Night in Canada commentators}}

[[Foster Hewitt]], who welcomed Canadians to the [[Radio programming|radio broadcast]] each week, demonstrated that his style could also work on television in 1952. Hewitt continued to work in television for many years (including the 1972 [[Summit Series]] between Canada and the [[Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team|Soviet national team]]), and his style of play-by-play announcing remained the same on television as it was on radio. Hewitt was followed by [[Danny Gallivan]], Hewitt's son, [[Bill Hewitt (sportscaster)|Bill Hewitt]], [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]], [[Bob Cole (sportscaster)|Bob Cole]], [[Dick Irvin Jr.]], [[Jim Robson]], and [[Jim Hughson]]. Previous show hosts included [[Wes McKnight]], [[Ward Cornell]], [[Frank Selke Jr.]], [[Jack Dennett]], [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]], [[Ted Darling]], [[Dave Hodge]], [[Brian McFarlane]], [[Don Cherry]], [[Dick Irvin Jr.]], and [[George Stroumboulopoulos]].

[[Ron MacLean]] was the host from the 1986–87 to 2013–14 season, and has been the host since the 2016–17 season. [[Chris Cuthbert]], [[John Bartlett (sportscaster)|John Bartlett]], and [[Harnarayan Singh]] are the primary play-by-play announcers, and [[Craig Simpson]], [[Garry Galley]], and [[Louie DeBrusk]] are the primary colour commentators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/jim-hughson-bob-cole-top-rogers-play-by-play-crew-1.2662962|title=Jim Hughson, Bob Cole top Rogers play-by-play crew|publisher=CBC Sports|date=June 3, 2014|access-date=2015-11-11}}</ref><ref name="sportsnet-macleanisback"/> [[Kyle Bukauskas]], [[Shawn McKenzie]], and [[Scott Oake]] serve as the primary reporters/hosts. Sportsnet's regional announcers from the [[Calgary Flames]] and [[Vancouver Canucks]] make occasional appearances when the teams host ''Hockey Night'' games.

On June 5, 2020, Sportsnet announced that it had hired TSN commentator and former ''Hockey Night in Canada'' broadcaster Chris Cuthbert.<ref name="thestar.com"/> Cuthbert joined ''HNIC'' in time for the NHL post-COVID return, calling games from Edmonton. Dave Randorf's contract was not renewed, and he joined the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] as their play-by-play announcer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/tampa-bay-lightning-hire-veteran-play-by-play-announcer-dave-randorf/c-320038810|title = Lightning hire veteran play-by-play announcer Dave Randorf| date=January 7, 2021 }}</ref> Hughson announced his retirement after the 2020–21 season, and Cuthbert assumed the lead play-by-play role.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-21|title=Sportsnet's Jim Hughson Retires from Broadcasting after 42 Years|url=https://www.rogerssportsandmedia.com/whats-happening/sportsnets-jim-hughson-retires-from-broadcasting-after-42-years/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Rogers Sports & Media|language=en}}</ref>

== Theme music ==

=== 1952–1968 ===
The television show's original theme song was "Saturday's Game", a march composed by [[Howard Cable]].<ref>Platt, Michael, "Our second national anthem is in danger of disappearing", ''Calgary Sun'', June 6, 2008</ref> The CBC and [[McCann (company)#McCann Canada|MacLaren Advertising]], the advertising agency responsible for the broadcasts at the time, later replaced it with the "[[Imperial Oil|Esso]] Happy Motoring Song".<ref>Cable guy rips CBC, Earl McRae, ''Ottawa Sun'', June 13, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/viewpoints/story.html?id=d28e72b2-66e8-493e-8f5f-f35fe583e85b&p=1 Good end to hockey-theme dispute] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108112315/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/viewpoints/story.html?id=d28e72b2-66e8-493e-8f5f-f35fe583e85b&p=1 |date=November 8, 2012 }}, William Wilson, ''The Gazette'', June 10, 2008</ref>

=== 1968–2008: ''The Hockey Theme'' ===
{{See also|The Hockey Theme}}

The companies commissioned "[[The Hockey Theme]]", composed in 1968 by [[Dolores Claman]] and orchestrated by [[Jerry Toth]].<ref name="CE">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jerry-toth-emc/|title=Jerry Toth|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|author=Betty Nygaard King|access-date=2015-11-11}}</ref> The CBC's most recent licence to use "The Hockey Theme" expired at the conclusion of the [[2007–08 NHL season]]. Claman's publisher issued a statement on June 4, 2008, that the CBC would not be renewing its rights to the composition.<ref name="claman_announce">{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeytheme.com/FrameRImpAnnounce.htm|title=Hockey Night In Canada Theme to End|work=Copyright Music & Visuals|date=June 5, 2008|access-date=2008-06-05|archive-date=July 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723024914/http://hockeytheme.com/FrameRImpAnnounce.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> CBC Sports head Scott Moore denied the reports, saying that the CBC wanted to keep the song and that negotiations on a new licence agreement for the song were ongoing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/deal-still-possible-for-hockey-night-song-1.740825?ref=rss|title=Deal still possible for Hockey Night theme song|work=cbc.ca|date=June 5, 2008|access-date=2008-06-05}}</ref>

==== {{anchor|2008: The CBC loses rights to ''The Hockey Theme''}}2008: The CBC loses rights to "The Hockey Theme" ====
On June 6, 2008, the CBC announced that it could not reach an acceptable agreement to renew its licence. Rights to "The Hockey Theme" were picked up by CTV, which began using it for hockey broadcasts on its [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]] sports channels during the 2008–09 season.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/ctv-purchases-the-hockey-theme-1.728767 CTV purchases The Hockey Theme], CBC.ca, June 9, 2008</ref> (The theme was also featured during the closing ceremonies of the [[2010 Olympic Winter Games]], aired on CTV.) The CBC said that it had offered nearly [[Canadian dollar|$]]1 million for perpetual rights to Claman's theme,<ref>''[[The National (CBC)|The National]]'', June 6, 2008</ref> but Copyright Music was asking for $2.5 to $3 million. Copyright Music turned it down because it was "&nbsp;... a settlement that barely covered our legal bills, let alone losses."<ref>''[http://www.hockeytheme.com/ Copyright Music Open Letter], Important announcement page''</ref> One proposed payment method would have allowed the CBC to continue using the theme at a cost of $500 per play ($65,000 annually) while not giving the corporation ownership of the music.<ref>''[http://www.macleans.ca/culture/sports/article.jsp?content=20080611_114222_114222&page=3 Macleans] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518180836/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/sports/article.jsp?content=20080611_114222_114222&page=3 |date=May 18, 2011 }}''</ref> Despite being contacted by five parties interested in buying Claman's theme, "[Copyright Music] had no desire to start a bidding war."<ref>''[http://www.hockeytheme.com/ Copyright Music Open Letter], Important Announcement page''</ref>

Moore said, "We have no real idea why the deal fell apart. We're not sure why because the other side hasn't communicated with us."<ref>''[https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/deal-to-keep-hockey-night-theme-song-falls-through-1.696643 CBC], CBC.ca, June 6, 2008''</ref> According to Copyright Music, Moore gave them an unrealistic deadline of 24 hours to meet him when his client was five time zones away.<ref>''[http://www.hockeytheme.com/FrameRChronology.htm Hockey Theme Chronology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723025015/http://www.hockeytheme.com/FrameRChronology.htm |date=July 23, 2012 }}, June 6, 8:59pm''</ref>

Moore also said that he did not think ''Hockey Night in Canada'' would lose viewers if he lost the theme song: "Hockey's a game, not a song".<ref name="CTV buys rights">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/ctv-purchases-the-hockey-theme-1.728767|title=CTV purchases The Hockey Theme|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=June 9, 2008|access-date=2015-11-11}}</ref> Mike Myers disagreed with Moore's ambivalence towards the song, calling it "&nbsp;... the second anthem [of Canada]"<ref name="CTV buys rights" /> Canadian jazz-fusion band [[the Shuffle Demons]] jokingly introduced it as "&nbsp;... [Canada's] national anthem" during performances.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wells |first=Paul |url=http://www.macleans.ca/canada/opinions/article.jsp?content=20080611_34949_34949&page=2 |title=Standing up for our other national anthem |date=June 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718214146/http://www.macleans.ca/canada/opinions/article.jsp?content=20080611_34949_34949&page=2 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In a CBC-website poll asking, "Can Canada go on as we know it without the ''Hockey Night in Canada'' theme?", 84 percent said no.<ref>''[http://www.cbc.ca/news/polls/hockey-night-theme.html CBC informal poll]''</ref>

=== Finding a new theme: Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge ===
After the loss of "The Hockey Theme" to CTV, the CBC sponsored a nationwide search<ref>[http://anthem.projects.fm/ nationwide contest]</ref> (powered by the Filemobile media platform)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://toronto.areastartups.com/news/2008/07/11/cbcs-hockey-anthem-challenge-launches-on-filemobiles-media-factory-platform/ |title=Area Startups – CBC's Hockey Anthem Challenge launches on Filemobile's Media Factory platform – Jul 11, 2008 |publisher=Toronto.areastartups.com |date=July 11, 2008 |access-date=2011-02-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707160423/http://toronto.areastartups.com/news/2008/07/11/cbcs-hockey-anthem-challenge-launches-on-filemobiles-media-factory-platform/ |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> for a new theme in collaboration with the [[Nettwerk]] label.<ref name="cbc_newtheme">[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2008/06/c9522.html CBC press release], June 6, 2008</ref> The contest began on June 10, 2008; by August 31, the end of the submissions period, the network received over 14,000 entries. They were reduced to five semi-finalists, whose themes were re-arranged by producer [[Bob Rock]] and presented for public voting:

# "Ice Warriors"{{snd}}Gerry Mosby
# "Sticks to the Ice"{{snd}}Robert Fraser Burke
# "Eleventh Hour"{{snd}}Graham McRae
# "Let the Game Begin"{{snd}}Christian St-Roch and Jimmy Tanaka
# "Canadian Gold"{{snd}}Colin Oberst

"Hockey Scores", one of the highest-rated submissions, was not chosen as a semi-finalist.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://torontoist.com/2008/07/logan_aubes_hockey_night_theme/|title = Something Awful, Something New|date = July 16, 2008|access-date = March 24, 2019|archive-date = March 24, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190324171531/https://torontoist.com/2008/07/logan_aubes_hockey_night_theme/|url-status = dead}}</ref> Written by Logan Aubé of [[Aurora, Ontario]], the song is described by the ''[[National Post]]'' as "an endearingly insane cacophony of screaming babies, screeching animals and gunshot blasts",<ref name="NP">{{cite news|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/postedsports/archive/2008/07/17/screaming-babies-screeching-cats-and-gunshot-blasts-your-next-hockey-night-theme-song.aspx |title=Screaming babies, screeching cats and gunshot blasts: Your next Hockey Night theme song? |first=Chris |last=Boutet |work=National Post |date=2008-07-17 |accessdate=2008-07-25 }}{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and by ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' as sounding "a lot like a baby riding an unco-operative sheep through an industrial grinder".<ref name="G&M">{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080718.wcbcsong19/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail |title=Can this possibly be the Hockey Night theme? |work=Globe and Mail |first=Omar |last=El Akkad |date=2008-07-18 |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> Aubé originally posted the song on [[Something Awful]], asking participants to vote for it on the CBC's contest website.<ref name="Torontoist">{{cite news |url=http://torontoist.com/2008/07/logan_aubes_hockey_night_theme.php |title=Something Awful, Something New |work=The Torontoist |first=David |last=Topping |date=2008-07-16 |accessdate=2008-07-25 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523121320/http://torontoist.com/2008/07/logan_aubes_hockey_night_theme.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Hockey Scores" quickly became the most viewed and among the highest rated of the contest's
submissions,<ref name="NP"/><ref name="G&M"/> though the CBC would not make the decision based on popularity alone.<ref name="Torontoist"/>

Voting began on October 4, 2008, with two finalists picked for a final one-day vote.

==== October 11, 2008–2014: ''Canadian Gold'' arr. Oberst ====
The two finalists—Burke's "Sticks to the Ice" and Oberst's "Canadian Gold"—were announced on October 9, 2008. On October 11, after a final round of voting, "Canadian Gold" was announced by Don Cherry on ''Scotiabank Hockey Tonight'' as the new ''HNIC'' theme. Oberst received $100,000 plus 50 percent of the song's royalties, the other half of which would be donated to [[Minor ice hockey|minor hockey]]. The CBC received exclusive rights to the song for three years, and renewed its rights for the 2011–2012 season.

==== 2014–present: ''Canadian Gold'' arr. Herberman ====

A re-orchestrated version of the theme was introduced for the 2014–15 season, arranged and orchestrated by John Herberman and recorded in Toronto by a 50-piece orchestra. Herberman also created an extensive library of new [[Sting (musical phrase)|stings]] and [[Bumper music|bumpers]] derived from the main theme.<ref name=sn-newstudio>{{cite web|title=Sportsnet unveils new Hockey Central studio|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnet-unveils-new-hockey-central-studio/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref>

== Awards ==
''Hockey Night in Canada'' has received four [[Gemini Awards]] from six nominations, mostly for Ron MacLean:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0188335/awards|title=Awards for "Hockey Night in Canada"|access-date=2007-06-06|work=IMDb}}</ref>
*1992: Best Sports Broadcaster: Ron MacLean
*1994: Best Sports Broadcaster: Ron MacLean
*2004: Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast: Ron MacLean
** Best Sports Program or Series: Joel Darling, Chris Irwin, Sherali Najak
*2006: Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast: Ron MacLean

== Criticism ==

=== {{anchor|Programming choices}}Programming ===
Critics of ''HNIC''{{'s}} programming allege that the program favours the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/97121 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203122138/http://www.thestar.com/article/97121 |archive-date=December 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |title=Campbell adapts to HNIC hot seat |access-date=2007-01-10 |last=Zelkovich |first=Chris | location=Toronto | work=The Star | date=October 16, 2006}}</ref> The CBC did not air the March 11, 2006 pregame sweater-retirement ceremony for Canadiens legend (and [[slapshot]] inventor [[Bernie Geoffrion|Bernard "Boom Boom" Geoffrion]]), continuing its planned broadcast of a Toronto Maple Leafs-[[Tampa Bay Lightning]] game; Geoffrion had died earlier in the day. The CBC devoted portions of its coverage to Geoffrion (including a pregame tribute and acknowledgements during the first intermission and on "Coach's Corner"), and the ceremony was broadcast in full by French-language outlets. A CBC spokesperson said that the network received a "handful" of complaints about the lack of coverage; if the broadcaster aired the ceremony in full, it would have preempted the Leafs game for 40 minutes. An ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'' article considered the decision an example of perceived bias towards the Maple Leafs by the CBC, which did not want to "offend" their fans by not showing the full game.<ref name=ottcitizen-botched>{{cite news|title=CBC botched Geoffrion tribute drama|url=http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=bb3dd0e2-d064-49e2-8168-849204aab239|access-date=24 September 2014|work=Ottawa Citizen|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304211550/http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=bb3dd0e2-d064-49e2-8168-849204aab239|archive-date=March 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Content ===
{{further|Don Cherry#Removal from Hockey Night in Canada}}
Criticism of ''HNIC''{{'s}} content often focused on Don Cherry, who made controversial statements during his live on-air segments.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ho|first=Solarina|date=2019-11-11|title=Don Cherry's history of controversial comments|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/don-cherrys-history-of-controversial-comments/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=CTVNews|language=en|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007185906/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/don-cherry-s-history-of-controversial-comments-1.4680505|url-status=live}}</ref> Cherry was criticized for insulting [[Québécois people|Québécois]] and European players, some of whom he called "soft".<ref name="Rush">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/sports/hockey/don-cherry-coaches-corner.html|title=Realizing he 'Used to be good,' Don Cherry recalibrates his rancor|last=Rush|first=Curtis|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 25, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref> According to Cherry, Americans were ruining the NHL.<ref name="Vlessing2010">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada/don-cherry-attacks-left-wing-kooks-idUSTRE6B81EH20101209|title=Don Cherry attacks "left-wing" kooks|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|work=[[Reuters]]|date=December 9, 2010|access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> Despite these controversies, Cherry's popularity among Canadians endured.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=doncherry&redirected=true | publisher=[[ESPN]] | access-date=2008-10-05 | first=Scott | last=Burnside | title=The Biggest Mouth in Sports}}</ref>

The Rogers-produced "Coach's Corner" was shortened from 10 minutes to five, which was criticized by Cherry and MacLean during the first segment of the new season. The following Monday, Scott Moore had a brief discussion with Cherry; he laughingly said, "If you have more to talk about, all you need to do is make sure you tell the executive producer what you want to talk about and we'll make sure you have lots of time."<ref name=np-coachescornershorter>{{cite web|title=Don Cherry is still talking about his airtime: 'If they don't want me, fine'|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/don-cherry-is-still-talking-about-his-airtime-if-they-dont-want-me-fine|website=National Post|access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite book|last=Cole|first=Stephen|title=The Best of Hockey Night in Canada|year=2004|publisher=McArthur & Company|location=Toronto|isbn=1-55278-408-8}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Gruneau|first1=Richard|first2=David|last2=Whitson|year=1994|title=Hockey Night in Canada: Sport, Identities and Cultural Politics|location=Toronto|publisher=Garamond Press|isbn=0-920059-05-8}}
* {{cite book |title=Walking with Legends |last=Mellanby |first=Ralph |year=2007 |publisher=Fenn Publishing |isbn=978-1-55168-305-8}}
* {{citation |last = Podnieks |first = Andrew|year =2006 |title =A Canadian Saturday Night: Hockey and the Culture of a Country |url =https://books.google.com/books?id=qnVpwcFbNWQC&q=Canadian%20Culture&pg=PP1 |publisher= Greystone Books |isbn=978-1-55365-201-4 }}

== External links ==
{{portal|Ice hockey}}
*[http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/ Sportsnet NHL hockey coverage website]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl CBC Sports NHL website]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/hockey_night_in_canada_hd ''Hockey Night in Canada'' program guide information] from CBC.ca
*{{IMDb title|id=0188335|title=Hockey Night in Canada}}
*[http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/H/htmlH/hockeynight/hockeynight.htm ''Hockey Night in Canada'' from the Museum of Broadcast Communications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309040137/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/H/htmlH/hockeynight/hockeynight.htm |date=March 9, 2009 }}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|before=none| title=NHL English network broadcast partner<br /> in Canada| years=[[1952–53 NHL season|1952]] – present <br /><small>with [[NHL on CTV|CTV]] (1984–1986)</small><br /><small>with [[NHL on Global|Global/Canwest]] (1987–1988)</small>| after=[[NHL on Sportsnet|Sportsnet/City]]}}
{{s-end}}

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