Hockey Day in Canada

Hockey Day in Canada
Since 2000, the CBC has aired an annual special Hockey Day in Canada broadcast to celebrate the game in Canada. The broadcast includes hockey-related features all afternoon, leading up to a tripleheader of NHL action featuring the seven Canadian teams (Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets). One exception was the 2008 edition that featured four games including two American teams (Detroit and Colorado) along with the six Canadian teams; this was due to the NHL's schedule format at the time, as there was no inter-conference games between Canadian teams. Lead commentators, Don Cherry and Ron MacLean broadcast from a remote area. The broadcast includes live broadcast segments from smaller communities right across the country and features panel discussions on issues facing "Canada's game" at both the minor and pro levels. The day is usually in mid-February, but was broadcast in early January in 2002 and 2006 due to the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics, respectively; the 2007 event was also held in January (January 13), though no sporting events key to Canada were scheduled. The 2010 events were held on January 30 because of the 2010 Winter Olympics, held in February. The 2014 event was held on January 18 due to the 2014 Winter Olympics, which were held from February 8 to February 24. Hockey Day in Canada has also featured special events, such as world-record all-night pick-up hockey games from Red Deer, Alberta (in 2001) and Windsor, Nova Scotia (2002). Viewers got to see the games after the CBC ended regular programming for the night, without commentary.

Hockey Day in Canada was held in Whitehorse, Yukon on February 12, 2011. The Edmonton Oilers hosted the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs visited the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks welcomed the Calgary Flames.

With the arrival of the new Winnipeg Jets for the 2011-12 NHL season, there was an odd number of Canadian teams in the NHL, meaning HDIC again required the presence of an American team. This season, the Jets played the Pittsburgh Penguins.

HDIC will continue under the Rogers arrangement, with Scotiabank becoming title sponsor. As Sportsnet also holds national broadcast rights to the Canadian Hockey League, the 2015 edition included a primetime QMJHL game between the hosting Halifax Mooseheads and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

Broadcast locations

 * 2000: Toronto, Ontario (February 19)
 * 2001: Red Deer, Alberta (February 24)
 * 2002: Windsor, Nova Scotia (January 5)
 * 2003: Iqaluit, Nunavut (February 15)
 * 2004: Shaunavon, Saskatchewan (February 21)
 * 2005: No Hockey Day in Canada due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
 * 2006: Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador (January 7)
 * 2007: Nelson, British Columbia (January 13)
 * 2008: Winkler, Manitoba (February 9)
 * 2009: Campbellton, New Brunswick (February 21)
 * 2010: Stratford, Ontario (January 30)
 * 2011: Whitehorse, Yukon (February 12)
 * 2012: Prince Edward Island (February 11)
 * 2013: Peterborough, Ontario (February 9)
 * 2014: Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan (January 18)
 * 2015: Halifax, Nova Scotia (February 14)
 * 2016: Kamloops, British Columbia (February 6)
 * 2017: Kenora, Ontario (February 18)
 * 2018: Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador (January 20)
 * 2019: Swift Current, Saskatchewan (February 9)

In January 2005, due to the NHL labour dispute, the CBC cancelled that year's broadcast. Rival TSN aired a similar broadcast instead, Hockey Lives Here: Canada's Game, based from the World Pond Hockey Championships in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick. It also featured NHL players competing in an exhibition game to raise money for various charities in Hamilton, Ontario. TSN did not revive its version after the lockout ended.