The cancellation of Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi after an 18-year run has sparked disappointment across Punjabi-Canadian and sports communities, with former members of the broadcast describing the decision as a major loss for hockey fans.
Rogers Sports & Media cancelled the Punjabi-language broadcast on Friday. Airing on Saturday nights, the program provided Punjabi coverage of NHL games along with features and stories from across the league. In announcing the end of the show, its social media account highlighted its 18-year history and the unique space it had created within Canadian sports.
Jagraj Lalli, who joined the program behind the scenes in 2022 before becoming an on-air host in October 2025, said staff learned of the cancellation during a conference call a day before it was made public. While employees had anticipated changes following other recent cuts at Rogers, including the closures of Sportsnet 650 and News1130, Lalli said the complete cancellation of the Punjabi broadcast came as a shock.
For Lalli, appearing on the program had fulfilled a childhood ambition. He recalled watching the show as a young first-generation Canadian and using it to help his parents understand hockey. He said the program eventually became much more than a sports broadcast, serving as a connection between Punjabi culture and one of Canada’s most prominent sports traditions.
The decision has also drawn criticism from members of the Punjabi-Canadian community. Punjabi television journalist Manraaj Grewal said the program allowed families across generations to enjoy hockey together without younger relatives having to translate the broadcasts. She said its cancellation means some viewers could lose a familiar and culturally meaningful way of following the sport.
Despite the program’s end, Lalli said its former team remains committed to helping connect Punjabi audiences with hockey. He credited the community for building and supporting the broadcast throughout its 18-year history, saying the loss will be felt not only by those who worked on the show but also by generations of viewers who considered it their own place within Canadian hockey culture.
