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Kelly Hrudey has announced that his tenure with Hockey Night in Canada is officially over.
The 65-year-old broadcaster shared in a social media video on Wednesday evening that he learned on June 19 his contract would not be extended for the upcoming season. His full-time role with Hockey Night in Canada began in 1998, immediately following his retirement from his playing career in the NHL.
“My sincere gratitude goes out to the audience. Whether you liked or disliked me, I appreciate both perspectives,” he remarked.
Beginning in the 2014-15 season, Rogers Communications secured the sole national broadcasting rights for the NHL in Canada, showcasing matchups on Sportsnet and Citytv. However, a sublicensing agreement allowed Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts to remain on CBC-TV through the most recent season.
Throughout his run with the program, Hrudey provided commentary from both stadium press boxes during games broadcast by HNIC and the Toronto studio, where he collaborated with host Ron MacLean and various fellow commentators.
For nearly twenty years, Hrudey played in the NHL as a goalie for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. This professional background served as the foundation for his HNIC feature, “Behind the Mask,” in which he offered technical breakdowns of NHL goaltenders.
In the final years of his active career on the ice, when his teams missed the playoffs, Hrudey contributed to HNIC‘s postseason broadcasts. His performance left a strong impression on production staff, securing him a permanent position once he hung up his skates.
On Wednesday, Hrudey expressed his gratitude to the program’s directors, back-of-house staff, and makeup artists, humorously noting that the styling crew “pulled off a miracle.”
“To me, you were more than just colleagues; you became true friends,” he remarked regarding his past and long-standing teammates.
‘In absolute shock’
Originally from Edmonton and currently residing in Calgary, Hrudey has frequently utilized his public profile to champion mental health awareness, openly discussing his personal experiences with anxiety and his daughter Kaitlin’s OCD diagnosis.
His memoir, Calling the Shots: Ups, Downs and Rebounds – My Life in the Great Game of Hockey, which he co-authored with Kirstie McLellan Day, was released by HarperCollins Canada in 2017.
In the video message, Hrudey clarified that “this does not mean I am retiring,” although he did not share what his next steps will be.
Fellow HNIC commentator Elliotte Friedman sent his appreciation to Hrudey, celebrating their 22-year partnership on the broadcast.
“I remain stunned. It is difficult to put into words,” Friedman shared on the platform X.
An announcement in June revealed that NHL broadcasts will vanish from CBC next season, ending a run of nearly 75 years. Additional adjustments to the hockey viewing landscape in Canada were also declared, including a rise in the volume of games broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video service starting next year.
Rogers has yet to issue an official statement regarding Hrudey’s departure.
This news represents the second high-profile exit of a familiar HNIC television figure before the next season starts. In April, veteran CBC Sports broadcaster Scott Oake—who presented the After Hours portion of the broadcast for more than twenty years—announced his upcoming retirement.
