All Articles

Sportsnet Celebrates Courage with the 19th Annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, Feb. 9

Feb 4, 2019 News Releases

–12.5-hour broadcast pays tribute to host province Saskatchewan with emotional features about courage and overcoming adversity –
– Ron MacLean hosts live from Swift Current, SK, with guest appearances by Don Cherry, NHL Alumni, and local hero Sheldon Kennedy –
– Sportsnet to visit hockey celebrations from coast-to-coast in Montreal, Halifax and Whistler –
– Canadian artist David Arrigo to paint interactive Scotiabank #HockeyDay mural live on-site throughout the week –

Join the conversation: #HockeyDay

TORONTO (February 4, 2019) Sportsnet is heading to Saskatchewan this Saturday to celebrate the 19th annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada – Canada’s biggest single-day hockey celebration. This year’s broadcast focuses on courage – a fitting theme in a province known to thrive in the face of adversity. The 12.5 hour marathon will open with an emotional tribute to first responders, including those involved in the fatal Swift Current Broncos bus crash in 1986, and the similar tragedy that the Humboldt Broncos suffered in April of last year.

Hosted live from Swift Current, SK, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada features four must-see matchups with all seven of Canada’s NHL teams in action, beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, CBC, Rogers NHL LIVE and Sportsnet NOW. Throughout the broadcast, Sportsnet will celebrate those who have discovered courage within themselves through Canada’s favourite pastime. These special features include:

  • An inspiring look back at the Swift Current Broncos team that captured the hearts of Canadians by winning the Memorial Cup in 1989, just three years after four of its players were killed in a team bus crash.
  • Evanka Osmak profiles the Hunter Brothers, a band of five spirited brothers from Shaunavan, SK who were raised on a farm, molded in junior hockey, and found professional success in music, without ever forgetting their roots.
  • For most families, sports can be an uplifting and uniting experience. This is especially true for families with special needs children, many of whom rely on sport to form closer bonds and find encouragement through difficult times. Carly Agro takes an in-depth look at the sports industry’s attempts to make live events more accessible for these families.
  • The culmination of Scotiabank’s 20-part video series, Scotiabank Heroes of Hockey Day in Canada. The winning team will travel to Swift Current to take in all the weekend’s festivities.

Click to view the trailer of Carly Agro’s special feature, Courage to Watch.

Ron MacLean will be on location in Swift Current to host the day-long celebration alongside several guests, including Don Cherry, and NHL alumni Wendel Clark, Lanny McDonald, Sheldon Kennedy, Darcy Tucker, Bryan Trottier, and many more. Two-time Olympic gold medallist Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Ryan Straschnitzki of the Humboldt Broncos, the Stanley Cup, and Sportsnet Central’s Ken Reid and Evanka Osmak will also make appearances throughout the day.

A special on-site activation will feature Canadian artist David Arrigo, best known for his work with the NHL, as he paints an interactive Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada mural that will be unveiled prior to the Swift Current Broncos game taking place at the iPlex. Sportsnet viewers are invited to share their favourite hockey memories, some of which will inspire the mural, using the hashtag #HockeyDay and Scotiabank will donate $1* to the NHL Foundation in support of kids’ community hockey across Canada.

In addition to activities in Swift Current, Sportsnet will also look in on celebrations happening from coast-to-coast. Locations include:

  • Montreal, QC– Sportsnet’s Faizal Khamisa provides coverage of a Canadian Women’s Hockey League matchup between Les Canadiannes de Montreal and the Toronto Furies.
  • Halifax, NS– Carly Agro joins NHL alum Alex Tanguay as they visit a Scotiabank community hockey festival celebrating Canada’s favourite sport.
  • Whistler, BC – Tara Slone gives viewers a sneak peek at the Rogers Hometown Hockey celebrations taking place in Whistler this weekend.

Canadian hockey fans can visit Sportsnet.ca/hockeyday and use the hashtag #HockeyDay to join the conversation and connect to other fans coast-to-coast.

This year’s Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada marks the 19th edition of the national celebration. In addition to the broadcast, this year’s festivities in Swift Current include appearances by the Stanley Cup, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Celebrity and NHL Alumni Classic, NHL Declaration of Principles Breakfast, hockey clinics, school visits and more.

Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Broadcast Schedule
*All games available on Rogers NHL LIVE and Sportsnet NOW

Saturday, Feb. 9

  • 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada: Celebrating the Game (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, and CBC)
    Host: Ron MacLean – live from Riverdene Park in Swift Current
  • 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT –  Winnipeg Jets @ Ottawa Senators (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, and CBC)
    Play-by-Play: John Bartlett; Analyst: Garry Galley; Reporter: Harnarayan Singh
  • 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT – Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada: Celebrating the Game (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, and CBC)
    Host: Ron MacLean – live from Riverdene Park in Swift Current
  • 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens (Sportsnet ONE, City, and CBC)(OMNI – Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition)
    Play-by-Play: Jim Hughson; Analyst: Craig Simpson; Reporter: Kyle Bukauskas
  • HNIC: Punjabi – Host: Randip Janda; Panel: Mantar Bhandal and Gurpreet Sian; Play-by-play: Harnarayan Singh; Analyst: Harpreet Pandher
    •  First Intermission: Coach’s Corner with Don Cherry and Ron MacLean, live from Swift Current
    •  Second Intermission: Saturday’s Headlines: Amber, Friedman, Kypreos, Chris Johnston
  • 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – San Jose Sharks @ Edmonton Oilers (Sportsnet and Sportsnet 360)
    Play-by-Play: Kevin Quinn; Analyst: Drew Remenda; Reporter: Gene Principe
  • 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT – Calgary Flames @ Vancouver Canucks (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360 and CBC) (OMNI – Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition)
    Play-by-Play: Dave Randorf; Analyst: Louie DeBrusk; Reporter: Scott Oake
  • 1 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – After Hours with Scott Oake (Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360 and CBC)

*Note: Commentator schedule is subject to change

Social Media Links
Official Website, Sportsnet sportsnet.ca
Like Sportsnet facebook.com/sportsnet
Follow Sportsnet on Twitter@Sportsnet
Follow Sportsnet on Instagram @Sportsnet
Join the conversation: #HockeyDay
Follow Ron MacLean @RonMacLeanHTH
Follow Don Cherry @CoachsCornerCBC
Follow Wendel Clark @wendelclark17
Follow Darcy Tucker @16DarcyTucker
Follow Sheldon Kennedy @ShelKenn
Follow Cassie Campbell-Pascall @CassieCampbell
Follow Ken Reid @SNKenReid
Follow Evanka Osmak @evankaosmak
Follow The Stanley Cup @StanleyCup
Follow Carly Agro @SNCarlyAgro
Follow Faizal Khamisa @SNFaizalKhamisa
Follow Tara Slone @TaraSlone
Follow John Bartlett @BartsBytes
Follow Harnarayan Singh @IceSinghHNIC
Follow Martine Gaillard @MartineGaillard
Follow David Amber @DavidAmber
Follow Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Follow Kelly Hrudey @KellyHrudey
Follow Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
Follow Craig Simpson @hnicsimmer
Follow Kyle Bukauskas @SNkylebukauskas
Follow Christine Simpson @SNChrisSimpson
Follow Randip Janda @RandipJanda
Follow Mantar Bhandal @MantarBhandal
Follow Harpreet Pandher @HarpPandher
Follow Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Follow Gene Principe @GenePrincipe
Follow Dave Randorf @DaveRandorf
Follow Louie DeBrusk @LouDeBrusk
Follow Scott Oake @ScottOake
Follow Ryan Straschnitzki @rstraz_

About Sportsnet
Sportsnet is Canada’s #1 sports media brand. Uniting Canadians through sport, Sportsnet’s multimedia offerings include Sportsnet (consisting of 4 regional channels: East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, the Sportsnet Radio Network, Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet NOW, the Sportsnet app, and podcasts. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national multiplatform rights holder, and is the regional broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Sportsnet also has extensive coverage of the Blue Jays, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, Rogers Cup, CHL, WWE, Premier League, and FA Cup. Sportsnet is part of Rogers Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI). Visit Sportsnet.ca.

*The program runs from February 2 – 9, 2019. Scotiabank will donate up to, or a maximum of, $50,000.