Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition has been canceled after being on the air for 18 years, the show announced on Friday. The Punjabi-language sportscast expressed that since its inception in 2008, it has helped bring the community closer to the beloved game. The show highlighted the stories of South Asian players and families, creating a unique space within Canadian sports. Rogers Sportsnet, the national rights-holder for NHL games, referred to the cancellation as a “difficult decision” due to insufficient audience levels to sustain long-term production. The company acknowledged the significance of the broadcasts to many Punjabi-speaking hockey fans and expressed gratitude to the on-air team, production staff, and viewers for their support over the years.
Jagraj Lalli, a commentator on the show since the fall, expressed his shock at the cancellation. He mentioned that the show’s mission of fostering connections and diversity will endure, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the bridge between the Punjabi language, community, and North American sports. Lalli highlighted how the show provided representation for aspiring broadcasters within the Punjabi community, recounting his emotional debut covering a Vancouver Canucks game in October 2025.
Fans of the show took to social media to express their disappointment over the cancellation, reminiscing about the positive impact of the program. They praised the show for its inclusivity and representation within the sports world. Despite the cancellation, the legacy of Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi will be remembered fondly by many.
The decision to end the show comes in the wake of CBC’s announcement in June that it would no longer broadcast Hockey Night in Canada, marking the end of a nearly century-long tradition. This move follows Sportsnet’s cancellation of Vancouver’s sports radio station, Sportsnet 650, in July after nearly ten years on the air.
