Hockey Night in Canada Set to Fire Multiple On-Air Personalities

Things are about to get very, very different at Canada's favourite hockey broadcast show next season.

According to Howard Berger on his website Between the Posts, he'd heard from an unnamed industry source that multiple personalities at Hockey Night in Canada are set to be fired soon by Rogers (Sportsnet's parent company), with the exception of Elliotte Friedman.

This news comes as a major shock, not the least of which involves the firing of longtime host Ron MacLean. Other personalities like Kevin Bieksa, Jennifer Botterill and Kelly Hrudey being ousted from the show, with Bieksa's possible departure in particular catching heat on social media.

There is no speculation up to now as to who could replace MacLean, Bieksa, Botterill or Hrudey on next season's panel. Rogers is entering the homestretch of its massive 12-year deal for exclusive rights for major NHL broadcasts, including on Saturday nights.

Berger's source says the departures will likely be for cost-cutting reasons. If so, this would would come after ratings on the network for this year's Stanley Cup Final fell eight per cent from last season. Aside from fan favourite Bieksa, the most shocking departure would easily be Ron MacLean, who has been the host of Hockey Night in Canada almost every year since 1986.