The long-running program, Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition, has been canceled after being on the air for 18 years, the show announced on Friday. The Punjabi-language sportscast expressed how it had brought the community closer to the beloved game since its inception in 2008. The show was recognized for sharing the stories of South Asian players and families, creating a unique space within Canadian sports.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national rights-holder for NHL games, described the decision to cancel the show as a challenging one. Despite the cancellation, the company acknowledged the significant impact the broadcasts had on Punjabi-speaking hockey fans over the years.
Commentator Jagraj Lalli, who had a childhood dream of being part of the show, expressed his shock at the cancellation. He emphasized that the show’s legacy of connection, diversity, and representation would endure. Lalli highlighted the importance of the show in providing a platform for up-and-coming broadcasters from the Punjabi community.
Fans of the show lamented its cancellation online, expressing their disappointment and fond memories. The show’s final season had an average audience of 1,500 viewers, with many games attracting fewer than 1,000 viewers, according to Sportsnet.
Former show member Bhupinder Singh Hundal also shared his sentiments online, reflecting on the impact of Hockey Night Punjabi on his career and community representation. The cancellation of the show follows CBC’s decision to end its broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada after failing to reach a new sublicensing agreement with Sportsnet in June. Rogers Sports and Media also shut down Vancouver’s sports radio station, Sportsnet 650, in July after almost a decade on the air.