Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition has been canceled after being on the air for 18 years, as announced by the show on Friday. The Punjabi-language sportscast expressed that since its inception in 2008, it had brought the community closer to their beloved game.
In a statement, the show highlighted how it shared the stories of South Asian players and families, creating a unique space in Canadian sports. The team thanked viewers for their unwavering support and loyalty throughout the years, emphasizing their pride in what they had collectively achieved.
Rogers Sportsnet, the national NHL rights-holder, acknowledged the cancellation as a challenging decision. They mentioned that while the audience numbers were not sufficient to sustain the show long-term, they recognized the significance of the broadcasts to many Punjabi-speaking hockey fans.
Commentator Jagraj Lalli, who had been part of the show since the fall, expressed his shock at the cancellation. He reflected on the show’s impact, stating that the mission and the connections it formed will endure indefinitely. Lalli pledged to continue fostering connections and maintaining the bridge between the Punjabi language, community, and North American sports.
Beyond being a platform for families to engage with sports, Lalli noted that the show provided opportunities for aspiring broadcasters from the Punjabi community. He shared his emotional debut experience covering a Vancouver Canucks game in October 2025, reminiscing about his family’s support and the influence of his great-grandmother in his journey.
Online reactions from fans lamented the cancellation, with many expressing their fond memories of the show. They highlighted the representation and sense of belonging the program provided, especially for the South Asian diaspora in the hockey community.
The show’s final season averaged 1,500 viewers overall, with most games drawing fewer than 1,000 viewers, according to Sportsnet. Former show member Bhupinder Singh Hundal also shared his thoughts online, recalling his time with the show and the impact it had on his career and the broader Punjabi community.
The cancellation follows CBC’s decision in June to end its long-standing broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada due to a failed sublicensing agreement with Sportsnet. Additionally, Rogers Sports and Media shut down Vancouver’s Sportsnet 650 sports radio station in July after nearly a decade on the air.