The Hockey Night in Canada that aired on the CBC is coming to an end

Hockey Night in Canada is coming to an end as Sportsnet and CBC have ended their 12-year partnership and leaves Canadians without an iconic part of their culture.

For generations of Canadians, Hockey Night in Canada's been synonymous with not only the NHL but so deeply engrained in the culture that if you were to ask fans to hum or sing the jingle, odds are you'd find one sooner than you wouldn't.

It's a staple that brought us decades of entertainment, excitement, and certainly some controversy, but it was something that brought millions together as we sat in front of the warm glow of the television set as we'd watch our favourite stars compete on the biggest stage.

But with broadcasting taking a completely different avenue nowadays with the advent of streaming, and certain Canadian broadcasting rights being worked with, it's made it harder for the HNIC program to stick around and be as prominent as it once was.

Sportsnet and CBC end 12-year partnership and spell the end of Hockey Night in Canada on the national broadcaster

Now, it's ending for good - at least on CBC.

Rogers Sportsnet announced through their PR account on X that they were ending their partnership with the CBC that they've had the past 12 years, and no longer will be scheduling games or presenting Hockey Night in Canada:

After successful 12-year partnership, Sportsnet and CBC announced today that the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season as it moves forward with a new sports programming strategy following the unprecedented success of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games.

Watching hockey on Saturday night is a time-honoured tradition for Canadians, and Sportsnet is privileged to continue delivering that tradition. This has been a terrific partnership, and both parties look forward to continued opportunities to collaborate in the future.

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The partnership began in 2014 and had a seven-year extension during the 2019-2020 season, with their rights ending in 2026. Since the CBC has declined to renew that partnership, the broadcasting giant will no longer show their iconic Saturday night hockey slate.

This won't affect events like Kraft Hockeyville or prevent Sportsnet from showing games on a Saturday night, but it's just that CBC will not be showing those games.

For Maple Leafs fans, they lose a huge staple of their hockey viewing schedule, and the team is so often synonymous with the broadcast that it could often lead to a bit of homerism; but with their HQ in Toronto it makes sense.

Remembering the iconic moments of Hockey Night in Canada

You can't talk about Hockey Night in Canada without remembering the roots. Foster Hewitt was the legendary voice who welcomed fans to the broadcast, and the program has its history dating back all the way to 1926 when it was presented on radio.

You also can't think about Hockey Night in Canada without thinking of Coach's Corner. Say what you will about Don Cherry and Ron MacLean, but the duo were a staple in homes for decades and provided levity, analysis, and sometimes some genuinely heartfelt moments:

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It also paved the way for some history as well. In 2006, Cassie Campbell-Pascal (then just Campbell) was the first female colour commentator to join the CBC broadcast, and since then we've seen other prominent names like Jennifer Botterill join the panel.

We also typically got a Hockey Day in Canada where the broadcast would see a trio of NHL Canadian teams each get a time slot either at 3 PM, 7 PM, or 10 PM and that was a day that shone a light on the smaller communities that have just as much passion but maybe don't get the recognition.

They've travelled from Nelson, BC to Corner Brook, NFLD and everywhere in between and always made sure to put a spotlight on the community leaders and those who help grow the game in their towns - it was bigger than just the NHL games.

But lastly, you cannot think about Hockey Night in Canada without thinking about the iconic theme. Composed in 1968, it was the quintessential anthem for Canadian hockey fans. It nearly died with CBC losing the rights, but CTV/TSN swooped in and saved it as it's still used to this day.

For Canadians, Tuesday marks a very sad day in hockey though we can always cherish the memories. Perhaps it's not goodbye, but just see you later.

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