After 18 years on the air, “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” has been canceled, the show announced on Friday. The Punjabi-language sportscast stated that the show had brought the community closer to the beloved game since its inception in 2008. They expressed gratitude to viewers for their unwavering loyalty and highlighted how the program shared the stories of South Asian players and families, creating a unique space in Canadian sports.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national NHL rights-holder, described the decision to cancel the show as a challenging one. They mentioned that although audience levels were not strong enough to sustain the production long term, they acknowledged the significance of the broadcasts for many Punjabi-speaking hockey enthusiasts. The company expressed gratitude to the on-air team, production staff, and viewers for their support over the years.
Jagraj Lalli, a commentator on the show, expressed shock upon learning about the cancellation. He shared how being part of the program had been a lifelong dream for him, dating back to his childhood days when he would pretend to call play-by-plays while watching games on TV. Lalli emphasized that despite the show’s end, its mission of connection, diversity, and representation would endure indefinitely.
Lalli also highlighted that besides connecting families with sports, the show had provided a platform for up-and-coming broadcasters from the Punjabi community. He reflected on his emotional debut covering a Vancouver Canucks game in 2025 and how it fulfilled his dream of making his family proud, particularly his great-grandmother who had taught him the Punjabi language.
Fans expressed disappointment online following the announcement of the show’s cancellation, with many fondly remembering its impact. Some users highlighted the importance of representation in sports, with one mentioning how seeing people who looked like them involved in hockey was significant. Another user lamented the loss of the show, recognizing its role as a trailblazer for the South Asian diaspora.
The cancellation of “Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition” follows CBC’s decision in June to discontinue broadcasting “Hockey Night in Canada” after almost a century due to an inability to reach a new sublicensing deal with Sportsnet. This move by Rogers comes on the heels of the closure of Vancouver’s sports radio station, Sportsnet 650, in July after nearly ten years on the air.