After an impressive 18-year run, the broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition has been canceled, as confirmed by the show on Friday. The Punjabi-language sports program expressed gratitude for bringing the community closer to the beloved game since its inception in 2008. Recognizing the unique space it created for South Asian players and families in Canadian sports, the show thanked its loyal viewers for their unwavering support.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national NHL games rights-holder, described the decision to cancel the show as a challenging one. Despite acknowledging the significance of the broadcasts to many Punjabi-speaking hockey enthusiasts, the company stated that the audience levels were insufficient to sustain long-term production.
Commentator Jagraj Lalli, a long-time show contributor, expressed shock upon learning about the cancellation. Reflecting on the show’s impact in fostering connections and diversity within families, Lalli emphasized that the mission of the program would endure indefinitely. He vowed to uphold the cultural bridge between the Punjabi language, community, and North American sports, ensuring that the legacy of the show lives on.
Lalli also highlighted the show’s role in providing representation for emerging broadcasters from the Punjabi community, recounting his emotional debut covering a Vancouver Canucks game in 2025. Fans took to social media to express disappointment over the cancellation, with many reminiscing about the show’s positive influence and representation within the South Asian diaspora.
The decision to end Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition follows CBC’s announcement in June that it would cease broadcasting the traditional Hockey Night in Canada after failing to reach a new sublicensing agreement with Sportsnet. This move by Rogers Sports and Media also comes on the heels of the closure of Vancouver’s Sportsnet 650 radio station in July, marking the end of an era for sports broadcasting in Canada.