Hockey Night in Canada enters 60th season

Vancouver, BC, Canada (4E Sports) – The CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada returns for its 60th season with a triple-header involving five Canadian teams.

“I don’t think you can live in Canada and not get excited about something that’s part of our national

consciousness,” said Julie Bristow, executive director of studio and unscripted programming at the Canadian pubcaster.

Bristow is waiting to see how the hockey faithful responds to NHL broadcasts after feeling alienated and angry over the recent labor dispute.

“We hope the viewers will tune in,” Bristow said.

Ex-Boston Bruins coach Don Cherry will double-shift on his Saturday night TV pulpit with Coaches Corner. He will be on air during the first period intermission of the opening night game, and return during the first intermission of the second game.

And the CBC is adding Glenn Healy, P.J. Stock, Kevin Weekes and Elliotte Friedman as analysts, alongside Ron MacLean.

Hockey Night in Canada is expected to receive stiff competition for the Saturday night double-header rights from rivals Bell Media and Rogers Media, both of which air NHL games on cable sport channels. Negotiation for TV contracts with the NHL comes up next year.

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