Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition not returning after 18 years

Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition will not be returning, according to a statement on the show's official X account.

"For 18 years, this show brought our community closer to the game we love," it said. "It shared the stories of South Asian players and families and created a space that was truly unique in Canadian sports.

"We are incredibly proud of what we built together."

Omni Television, which hosted the show, and its parent company Rogers Sports & Media did not immediately return calls for comment.

In its statement, the show thanked viewers for their "unwavering loyalty."

"You welcomed us into your homes, shared your stories with us, and made this show what it became."

Online users reacted with disappointment about the cancellation, saying they would remember the show fondly.

"As a descendant of Pakistani immigrants born in Canada, even though I don't speak Punjabi, [Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi] was special to me because I got to see people that looked like me be involved in the sport of hockey," said one user.

"What a damn shame," wrote another. "Trailblazers for the South Asian diaspora — you'll all be missed massively."

The news comes after CBC's recent announcement it would no longer broadcast Hockey Night in Canada — after nearly a century — after being unable to reach a new sublicensing deal with national rights-holder Rogers Sportsnet.

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