Full Breakdown
PWHL Takes Over Hockey Night in Canada for Early-December Launch
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Women’s Hockey Replaces the NHL on CBC’s Flagship Saturday Broadcast
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced that its fourth season will open in early December with all 12 teams playing the opening weekend. CBC will air eight prime-time PWHL games on the “Hockey Night in Canada” (HNIC) brand, filling the slot left vacant after the network’s NHL contract ended. The schedule includes a primetime matchup featuring defending Walter Cup champion Montréal Victoire against the expansion Hamilton team, followed by games involving the other Canadian-based clubs.
Background & Context
On June 16, CBC disclosed that it would no longer broadcast NHL games after failing to reach a new sublicensing deal with rights-holder Rogers Sportsnet. Retaining the HNIC trademark, the public broadcaster sought a new flagship property. The PWHL, launched on January 1 2024, has added four new franchises—Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton—bringing the league to 12 teams for the 2026-27 season.
Data & Statistics
- Teams: 12 total, with four expansion clubs added for the upcoming season.
- Broadcast package: CBC will televise eight Saturday night games, each featuring a Canadian-based team, with pre- and post-game analysis.
- U.S. exposure: The PWHL secured a season-long national deal with Scripps Sports, airing games on ION, which reaches more than 128 million American households.
- French-language audio: Radio-Canada will deliver exclusive live audio for every Montréal Victoire game.
Official Statements & Responses
Sophie Morasse, executive director of Entertainment, Sports, and TOU.TV, highlighted the excitement generated by the Victoire’s recent Walter Cup victory and praised Radio-Canada’s expanded radio coverage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Hockey Night in Canada is a fixture in Canadian sports culture, and its Saturday night schedule has ritually captivated hockey fans for nearly a century,” — Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations
- “Our partnership with the PWHL opens a new chapter in sports history. We are proud to announce the return of the iconic Hockey Night in Canada brand, building on this beloved Canadian tradition with the PWHL’s growing fanbase and providing audiences across the country with free access to world-class hockey,” — Chris Wilson, Executive Director, Sports and Olympics, CBC
Impact: Significance of the Partnership
The shift places women’s hockey at the center of Canada’s longest-running sports program, offering a national platform that had aired men’s NHL action for more than seven decades. By featuring Canadian teams each Saturday, the broadcast maintains HNIC’s regional focus while introducing a broader audience to the league’s talent. The simultaneous U.S. national TV deal expands the league’s footprint, attracting new sponsors and fans across North America.
What’s Next
The PWHL will release its full season schedule later this week, and CBC plans to roll out a new weekly Saturday sports show in the fall to complement the HNIC broadcasts. Radio-Canada’s dedicated Sunday audio program will also debut in the coming weeks, providing additional French-language coverage of the league’s marquee games.
