Elliotte Friedman speaks out after beloved colleague's surprise exit from Sportsnet
Kelly Hrudey's 28-year run behind the Hockey Night in Canada desk is over, and the news hit his longtime colleagues hard. Among them was Elliotte Friedman, who didn't wait long to share how he felt.
Hrudey revealed this week that Sportsnet would not be renewing his contract for the coming season, ending a run that began back in 1998, right after his NHL career wrapped up. It was an NHL career that saw him play goalie for the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings.
For a broadcaster who's been a fixture on Canadian hockey television for nearly three decades, the announcement caught almost everyone off guard, including the people who worked alongside him every week.
What Friedman Said
Friedman, Sportsnet's top NHL insider, responded directly on X, and the emotion in his words was hard to miss.
Still shocked. Hard to find the right things to say.
Thank you for 22 incredible years -- even when you (deservedly) tore me apart in the lobby of an Italian hotel.
Thank you for 22 incredible years -- even when you (deservedly) tore me apart in the lobby of an Italian hotel.
It's a short message, but it says a lot. Friedman and Hrudey spent more than two decades sharing a desk, breaking down games, and building the kind of on-air chemistry that doesn't come around often. Losing that so suddenly clearly stung.
A Broadcasting Era Comes to a Close
Hrudey's departure isn't happening in isolation. It comes as Sportsnet works through a broader shakeup of its NHL coverage, and it leaves a real gap next to names like Ron MacLean, Kevin Bieksa, and Jennifer Botterill on the panel.
Hrudey himself was careful to note this isn't a retirement, leaving the door open for a return somewhere else in hockey media.
Given his experience and the way people like Friedman are reacting, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him back on the air before long, just not with Sportsnet.
For now, fans are left saying goodbye to one of the more recognizable voices in Canadian hockey broadcasting, and processing the news alongside the people who knew him best.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Sportsnet cut a 28-year Hockey Night veteran three days after CBC's NHL exit
Sportsnet cut a 28-year Hockey Night veteran three days after CBC's NHL exit