Hockey Night In Canada with Strombo and Don

[GameBoy27]

Rumour has it Strombo will host HNIC with Don Cherry when Rogers takes over next year. Ron MacLean will have a reduced role.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2014/03/09/george_stroumboulopoulos_to_host_hockey_night_in_canada_report.html

By: Joel Eastwood Staff Reporter, Published on Sun Mar 09 2014

Talk show host George Stroumboulopoulos may be the next face of Hockey Night in Canada.

Bob McKenzie of TSN tweeted Sunday night that there is a good chance the CBC television personality will be named the primary host of NHL coverage on Sportsnet when Rogers Communications Inc. takes over next season.

McKenzie also hinted that Coach’s Corner will be getting a two-year contract extension, although long-time host Ron MacLean may no longer be as deeply involved.

A spokesperson for Sportsnet declined to confirm Stroumboulopoulos is the new host.
McKenzie made no direct mention of commentator Don Cherry, who has popularized Coach’s Corner since first appearing on it in 1980.

Sportsnet president Scott Moore has suggested both Cherry and MacLean will still have a home on the new network.

“I’m a big fan of both,” said Moore, a former Hockey Night producer himself, last month. “They’re currently employed by the CBC. We’ve had some conversations, it’s a little early. We will be in a position to announce all our hockey commentators by early May. You can expect by end of April we’d have people under contract.”

Stroumboulopoulos has hosted the talk show George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (previously known as The Hour) on CBC for 10 years. He also has a Sunday-night music show on CBC Radio 2, The Strombo Show.

Last summer he had a one-season stint as the host of Stroumboulopoulos on CNN, which struggled to attract viewers and was not renewed for a second season.

Rogers Sportsnet took control of Hockey Night and all national NHL broadcast rights in a 12-year, $5.2-billion deal last fall.

Under the terms of the major agreement, the Saturday night institution will remain on CBC for at least the next four years.

Rogers has already announced a number of innovations it will roll out when it takes over the hockey coverage in September, including a new Hometown Hockey segment, more social media integration and potentially new cameras strung above the ice surface to provide new angles on the action.

 

[FTWWTF]

R.I.P. H.N.I.C. as we know it

 

[DanJ]

Doesn't matter to me. Nothing says Ron isn't going to do Coaches Corner with Don yet anyway. Rogers needs to make money at this, and they know one way is to not mess with the current Coaches Corner format. I like Strombo too, and as a former sports guy from the Fan590, I'm sure he'll do just fine hosting the pregame. There's going to be a lot of changes going on with Rogers taking over and there will surely be a big shuffle of on air talent. No doubt we'll see some familiar TSN faces move over as well.

 

[DanJ]

And it's now official. Ron and Don continue with Coach's Corner, Strombo hosts HNIC.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/rogers-unveils-nhl-broadcasting-dream-team/

 

[GameBoy27]

And it's now official. Ron and Don continue with Coach's Corner, Strombo hosts HNIC.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/rogers-unveils-nhl-broadcasting-dream-team/

I thought it would be strange to mess with that. I have no problem with Strombo being part of the new HNIC. He's a huge hockey fan, plays hockey and knows his stuff. He'll do just fine!

I just hope I never have to hear the new (3 year old) CBC HNIC theme, that one really sucks.

 

[trtinajax]

Doesn't matter to me. Nothing says Ron isn't going to do Coaches Corner with Don yet anyway. Rogers needs to make money at this, and they know one way is to not mess with the current Coaches Corner format. I like Strombo too, and as a former sports guy from the Fan590, I'm sure he'll do just fine hosting the pregame. There's going to be a lot of changes going on with Rogers taking over and there will surely be a big shuffle of on air talent. No doubt we'll see some familiar TSN faces move over as well.

Basically a lot of dollars going from the fans' pockets into Rogers since they have a monopoly.

 

[superstar_88]

There was a time when people thought no one could replace Dave Hodge. Well, no one misses Dave Hodge now.

 

[elwoodinontario]

 

[OddSox]

There was a time when people thought no one could replace Dave Hodge. Well, no one misses Dave Hodge now.

I do LOL

 

[5hummer]

First impression: I guess Canada Has NO Talent

Good luck to Strombo, thought he was a great @MUCH, but homogenized & boring when he migrated to the CBC.

 

[MojoRisin']

I dont like the "talent" they introduced on that panel. Jeff Marek, Darren Millard, Strombo, ect. Not one person on there is a legit Hockey Insider or talent IMHO. TSN has the best Hockey People bar none. Its too bad Bell didnt get the deal.

 

[shai]

Dave Who?

He was a joke when I lived in Montreal

 

[Insidious Von]

Don Cherry is holding back, he's not happy. In his POV Ron McLean got the bum's rush. He may pick on the guy from time to time but he sincerely loves the man.

 

[DanJ]

I dont like the "talent" they introduced on that panel. Jeff Marek, Darren Millard, Strombo, ect. Not one person on there is a legit Hockey Insider or talent IMHO. TSN has the best Hockey People bar none. Its too bad Bell didnt get the deal.

All that announcement on Monday was basically the lead people, not the analysts. They are going to have a lot of slots to fill for the pre/post/intermission panels. I'd love to see Bob McKenzie join them, but otherwise, I prefer Kypreos, Shannon and Mclean. I think we saw during the trade deadline show that Sportsnet plans to use PJ Stock and Kevin Weekes as well.

 

[ActionJackson]

Still tryin to wrap my mind around this.

 

[shack]

I lived in Montreal

That can explain a lot.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I thought it would be strange to mess with that. I have no problem with Strombo being part of the new HNIC. He's a huge hockey fan, plays hockey and knows his stuff. He'll do just fine!

I just hope I never have to hear the new (3 year old) CBC HNIC theme, that one really sucks.

I didn't know that Strombo was an ex sports broadcaster. I think he's a great interviewer and a smart guy, so I guess he will fit in the mold but it may take me some time to get used to him.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Still tryin to wrap my mind around this.

I know what you mean.

 

[buttercup]

Don Cherry is holding back, . .

Not possible.

 

[MojoRisin']

All that announcement on Monday was basically the lead people, not the analysts. They are going to have a lot of slots to fill for the pre/post/intermission panels. I'd love to see Bob McKenzie join them, but otherwise, I prefer Kypreos, Shannon and Mclean. I think we saw during the trade deadline show that Sportsnet plans to use PJ Stock and Kevin Weekes as well.

I cant stand any of the Sportsnet guys. I dont mind McLean but hate Kypreos, Shannon as well. 2nd tier guys. Not one SN guy touches the talent and knowledge of the TSN guys like Duthie, Dreger, LeBrun, McKenzie, etc etc...just a personal opinion. I dont like where this is going. Strombo comes across as a conceited know it all. No clue that he use to do sports. hmmmmm I dont like his style. Its just such a mish mash of people i dont like. just my opinion. We'll see