CBC Sports will return Hockey Night in Canada to the airwaves on December 5 with a revamped broadcast team focused exclusively on the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
The national broadcaster, which parted ways with NHL coverage in June after failing to reach a new sublicensing agreement with Rogers Sportsnet, will air eight Saturday night prime-time games this season, according to cbc.ca.
The studio team will be led by award-winning sportscaster Andi Petrillo, the first woman to join the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast team in a full-time capacity. She will be joined by four-time Olympic medallist Cassie Campbell-Pascal and The Athletic writer Hailey Salvian. This team will manage pre-game, post-game, and intermission coverage, analyzing key plays and storylines from across the league.
The in-game coverage features play-by-play announcer Daniella Ponticelli, who called the league’s inaugural game on January 1, 2024. She is joined by three-time Olympic champion Becky Kellar on analysis and veteran Rob Pizzo, who will handle rinkside duties. Ponticelli, who has called more PWHL games than any other announcer, is expected to reach her 100th game call in December, cbc.ca reported.
The season kicks off with the defending Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire hosting the Hamilton expansion team. In addition to the eight Saturday night broadcasts on CBC-TV, the network will provide live streaming through CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem. CBC/Radio-Canada has also secured exclusive French-language audio rights for all Victoire games for the 2026-27 season.
Beyond the standard broadcast, the network is launching a digital series titled House Rules on November 25. The program features former PWHL roommates Emma Maltais and Maggie Connors, who will provide behind-the-scenes content and commentary on fashion, culture, and hockey. The series aims to offer fans a more personal look at the league’s personalities.
"It’s exciting for girls to see women’s players on HNIC," said PWHL Hamilton forward Brianne Jenner, as reported by cbc.ca. Jenner said that the inclusion of the PWHL on the historic Hockey Night in Canada brand marks a significant shift for the visibility of women’s professional sports in the country.
Which games will be broadcast on CBC?
The network is scheduled to air eight Saturday night games, beginning with Hamilton versus Montreal on December 5. The full schedule includes matchups such as Boston versus Toronto on December 12 and New York versus Vancouver on January 2.
Does CBC still hold the rights to NHL games?
No. The broadcaster announced on June 16 that it would no longer carry NHL games following the expiration of its sublicensing agreement with Rogers Sportsnet. However, CBC retains the Hockey Night in Canada trademark for future use.
Where can viewers watch games outside of traditional TV?
All 26 available matchups will be accessible via live streaming on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem platform. French-language coverage will also be available on ICI Télé, ICI TOU.TV, and Radio-Canada OHdio.
How many PWHL games has Daniella Ponticelli called?
As of the latest reports from cbc.ca, Ponticelli has called more games than any other play-by-play announcer in the league, with her 100th broadcast expected to occur in December.
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