Hockey Night in Canada: What Needs to Change

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I'm going to eat you Russians!!!!!!

I can’t even begin to count how many times I hear my Americano hockey friends complain about how bad Versus and NBC are and how they know nothing about hockey. They point towards Hockey Night in Canada, CBC’s pinnacle Saturday Night Special on everything hockey. Back in the old times, HNIC was up to the times. Great commentators, serving up the best games on the start of the weekend.

The best thing I love about HNIC is the intro videos. They’re always weird, quirky, and enticing, but they always make a point. Here is, in my opinion, the best one to date, from Linda Ortega’s “Stumble and Fall” before Game Five of the Senators- Penguins series in the playoffs:

However, things have changed in the land of Canadian Hockey. Gone are the times of CBC domination, now TSN and Rogers Sportsnet control most NHL games. Although Sportsnet has work to do, TSN stole the theme song from HNIC and now has used it to perfection. The Pearl Jam version is an example, as clean as a baby. Great stuff there from Toronto. Gone are the days of “utter” domination of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey. Now, the only teams they can beat lie below the sun belt. Yet, CBC still hires guys who don’t know a clue about players not wearing the blue and white, and that includes long-time play-by-play Bob Cole.

Don’t get me wrong, Toronto is the biggest market in the NHL, and the Leafs have to have the better chunk of games on CBC since they are the most popular hockey team in the world. But the fact that they simply outnumber games shown including the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Ottawa Senators is just ridiculous. The main network shouldn’t always be showing Toronto games, it should be more spread around. Give the Leafs the most, but not the double.

Hockey Night in Canada also needs to hire actual smart guys. Keep Don Cherry, he’s still someone to watch on Saturday nights. Get rid of old farts such as Glenn Healy and Mike Milbury. Both make no sense at times, especially Milbury who really shouldn’t be talking against other General Managers if he did the worst job possible with the New York Islanders. Healy was never a good goalie, and stop his Sidney Crosby dick-sucking on the air.

One final change that needs to be made is to change the format of “The Hotstove”. This is my favourite part of HNIC, but the idea is being ruined by the main guys. All past season, most of the talk was on the Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Coyotes. Just stop it! The ‘Yotes are a great team, don’t overshadow that with their ownership problems. And most importantly, bring back Al Strachan. He and Pierre LeBrun were an amazing duo, dishing out the best rumours out there. And when it’s from those two, you know it’s real.

Hey, I’m not saying they should be perfect, because nobody is. But at least make an effort to improve. There’s a bigger market there, now take advantage of it!

Tags: Calgary Flames, Canada, Edmonton Oilers, Glenn Healy, Hockey Night in Canada, Introductions, Lindi Ortega, Mike Milbury, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, pittsburgh penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks

The reason CBC shows so many Toronto games is because they draw the most viewers BY FAR, and now people expect it. It also keeps costs down to have most of your broadcasts in the same place. CBC can't get most of the Canadiens games, because RDS holds the rights, and as for Western teams they do show them in the second game. And they do a pretty good job alternating between those teams. CBC is a business though, they don't even have money to keep their own theme AND they lost the CFL and Olympics so it's not surprising they won't switch from the leafs. If the leafs bring the most viewers and your advertising is based on how many people view your program, it makes sense to show them.

In Fairness, CBC will almost always show a game between two Canadian teams in favour of Toronto vs a non canadian team.

As for the hotstove, I have to agree. It has totally gone down hill and Mike Milbury is a fool. I don't care either way about Healey personally, he doesn't bother me. I don't think Al Strachan should be brought back as he talks a lot of crap, and I've never enjoyed him.

On the topic of play by play/colour guys. I think you are missing the mark on Bob Cole. He does make mistakes, but he is the Montreal homer now, so it's not like he knows Toronto extra well or anything. I'd keep him on because he has a real old time sports voice and can actually add excitement to a game. Kevin Weekes is the worst colour commentator ever. Srsly. Jim Hughson used to be a good play by play, but he's too full of himself now. He's constantly ranting about his opinions and giving "arty" descriptions which makes him fall behind play. Chris Cuthbert, now at TSN, is the best in the business.

As for TSN they've made plenty of good strides. I personally hate Pierre McGuire and I pray every day for him to leave. Not just for his foolish monster stuff, but he says foolish things all the time like A) praising every player on the planet and B) saying things could've happened. IE - If that shot hit the net it would've been a goal! Thats like saying if my aunt had a dick she'd be my uncle.

Bob McKenzie and Dave Hodge are the only really valuable people at TSN, but man are they good.

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camcharron

CBC needs to do what it does. It lost its signature song, but their intros are still the best. It needs to go back to the Satellite Hotstove format with Duhatschek and Strachan and Lebrun instead of Mike Milbury trying to be Don Cherry.

HNiC still has the best in-game production. Camera-work and direction are the best in the biz, while the #1 team of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson screams greatness.

Saturday nights have always been about the old-time feel of hockey, loud suits and classic matchups. Even though they have some personalities I dislike, nothing about the current version of HNiC makes me think that they've departed from that for a second.

Frank Rekas

Bobby: Fortunately the CBC's Hockey Night In Canada broadcast on Saturday night is available most nights to us here in the states on the NHL network. It's my favourite part of the week, and if I'm not home I always make sure to set up the Tivo for the both game and the "After Hours" show. As far as I'm concerned the whole night is fantastic.

You're right, the Lindy Ortega intro was one of the best as well. They do the job right for the most part and I don't have many complaints.

However, I'm kinda tired of Milbury. I wish that Roenick would have punched him in the face on NBC during the Cup Final.

I think Healy is ok for the most part, but he can be too opinionated. The Idesk with Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison was a great addition last year.
They need a few tweaks, but in all hoesty, I think they do a great job. Although I comparing to Versus and NBC!

Cherry is the best, and gotta love the jackets!

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