CBC/Radio-Canada is bringing back Hockey Night in Canada for its 90th season, but instead of NHL games, it will air eight Saturday prime-time games from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) starting December 5. The announcement also includes new weekly sports shows and exclusive audio rights for PWHL's Montreal Victoire team games. CBC emphasizes this partnership marks a significant step in supporting women's hockey and expanding its audience base across Canada.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
CBC/Radio-Canada announces return of Hockey Night in Canada in PWHL partnership
8 Saturday primetime games, plus weekend shows featuring Olympians and Paralympians
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada is returning for a 90th season this fall after all.
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Night → announce → season
But instead of six-plus months of NHL action, the longest-running sports program in the world will air eight prime time Professional Women’s Hockey League games on Saturday nights, the CBC announced Monday morning.
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CBC → run → nights
Beginning Dec. 5, with the defending Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire visiting Hamilton’s expansion team, HNIC will provide comprehensive coverage, including pre- and post-game panel analysis and accompanying digital content on CBCSports.ca and social media.
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HNIC → begin → CBCSports.ca
On June 16, the CBC announced it would no longer broadcast NHL hockey games after it and national rights-holder Rogers Sportsnet were unable to come to agreement on a new sublicensing deal.
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it → announce → deal
Canada’s national public broadcaster retained the Hockey Night in Canada trademark should it wish to incorporate the brand into future coverage.
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it → retain → coverage
“Our partnership with the PWHL opens a new chapter in sports history,” Chris Wilson, CBC’s executive director of Sports and Olympics, said.
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Wilson → open → Sports
“We are proud to announce the return of the iconic Hockey Night in Canada brand, building on this beloved Canadian tradition with the PWHL’s growing fanbase and providing audiences across the country with free access to world-class hockey.”
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We → announce → hockey
The PWHL is expected to launch its fourth season in late November or early December, and now boasts 12 teams after adding expansion teams in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton for the upcoming season.
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PWHL → expect → season
The full PWHL season schedule will be unveiled this Friday.
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schedule → unveil → ?
Keeping with tradition, each HNIC game will feature a Canadian-based team.
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game → keep → team
Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice-president of business operations, said the partnership with CBC has been instrumental in the accessibility and growth of the league.
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partnership → say → league
“Hockey Night in Canada is a fixture in Canadian sports culture, and its Saturday night schedule has ritually captivated hockey fans for nearly a century,” she said.
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she → captivate → century
“The opportunity to be part of this iconic brand represents another groundbreaking step for the PWHL to connect with our fans and forge new traditions together.”
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PWHL → represent → traditions
CBC Sports Primetime premieres Oct. 3
Beyond airing eight Saturday games, CBC/Radio-Canada has acquired exclusive audio broadcast rights for all Victoire games in Canada during the 2026-27 season.
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Canada → premier → season
CBC Sports Primetime, a new weekly Saturday show hosted by Andi Petrillo, will premiere Oct. 3.
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Primetime → host → Petrillo
Radio-Canada’s new weekly Sunday show, Rendez-vous Podium, follows with an Oct. 18 debut, hosted by Jacinthe Taillon.
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show → follow → Taillon
Primetime, airing on CBC and streaming on CBC Gem, will launch with the Canada Super60 cricket league.
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Primetime → air → league
It will feature major sporting events, professional women’s sports and unmatched coverage of Canada’s high performance as they compete at home and around the world, in Olympic and Paralympic sport.
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they → feature → sport
The October broadcast schedule will include the Grand Slam of Curling and ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix.
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schedule → include → Curling
“We’re delivering on our commitment to equal coverage of women’s sports across our platforms and look forward to elevating the athletes and stories at the heart of the game,” Wilson said.
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Wilson → deliver → game
Radio-Canada’s Rendez-vous Podium will combine athletic performances with human stories and be available on ICI Tele, the French-language general television network, on Sunday afternoons along with the ICI TOU. TV French streaming service.
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Podium → combine → service
The series will combine live events and stories about people making a difference at the elite and amateur levels, allowing the viewer to catch up with athletes and follow their journey to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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viewer → combine → Olympics
The Aporia
