Hockey Night in Canada shifts to PWHL as CBC relaunches brand

CBC is reviving Hockey Night in Canada this season with a new focus on the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), reorienting one of the country’s most recognizable sports brands. The public broadcaster announced that the first women’s game to air under the Hockey Night in Canada banner will see Montreal’s Victoire host the new Hamilton franchise on December 5, marking a significant milestone for both the show and the league.

From NHL staple to women’s pro showcase

The move comes as Hockey Night in Canada no longer carries National Hockey League games. Rogers Communications, which holds national NHL rights, did not renew its sublicensing agreement with CBC for the upcoming season, clearing the way for the Saturday-night institution to pivot toward women’s professional hockey.

Speaking in Toronto, CBC Sports executive director Chris Wilson said the network wants the brand to reflect a broader view of the sport and sees this shift as a chance to reconnect Hockey Night in Canada with fans in a new way. He framed the decision as a way to refresh a long-running property by presenting hockey that is more inclusive and accessible to audiences across the country.

For the PWHL, the partnership offers a powerful national platform. The league notes that CBC’s coverage has already helped build its visibility, and attaching Hockey Night in Canada’s longstanding name to its games is viewed as an important step in turning occasional viewers into regular followers and in strengthening ties with existing fans.

Hockey Night in Canada joins CBC Sports Primetime

The show will return as part of CBC Sports Primetime, a new weekly Saturday night sports program launching on CBC this weekend. Within that format, Hockey Night in Canada will serve as a central feature built around PWHL matchups, including the early-December Montreal–Hamilton game that will introduce the women’s league to the storied brand.

First televised in 1952, Hockey Night in Canada has long shaped the ritual of Saturday night hockey viewing for generations of Canadians. With NHL games no longer on CBC this season, folding the brand into CBC Sports Primetime allows it to remain a fixture in the country’s sports culture while giving the PWHL enhanced national exposure and a historic broadcast setting as it continues to grow.