ABOVE: Is George Stroumboulopoulos the right choice to helm “Hockey Night in Canada”?
TORONTO – George Stroumboulopoulos has officially been announced as the new host of “Hockey Night in Canada.”
The veteran CBC-TV personality will anchor NHL coverage beginning in October 2014. The announcement was timed with the news from CBC that Stroumboulopoulos’s Gemini Award-winning chat show would be cancelled after the completion of its 10th season.
It’s the first major personnel change made by Rogers after acquiring the NHL rights in a blockbuster 12-year, $5.2-billion deal in November.
Don Cherry, Ron MacLean, Daren Millard and Jeff Marek were also announced as “cornerstones” of Rogers’ coverage in a news release issued Monday.
Here’s what the new roles will be when Rogers takes over NHL coverage next season:
George Stroumboulopoulos – The popular radio and television personality is leaving his own show on CBC to be the face of Sportsnet’s NHL coverage. Stroumboulopoulos will host the flagship “Hockey Night in Canada” show and will be the anchor for the Sunday night “NHL Hometown Hockey” broadcasts. He’ll also host other NHL broadcasts on Sportsnet and other Rogers platforms. Stroumboulopoulos started his career in sports media, working as a reporter at Toronto radio station The Fan 590.
Don Cherry – The opinionated analyst will bring his outspoken demeanour and one-of-a-kind fashion sense back for a 29th season of Coach’s Corner. The 80-year-old Cherry has been entertaining – and sometimes infuriating – fans during the first intermission of “Hockey Night in Canada” since 1980. While there had been doubts about Cherry’s future, he says he “knew that Rogers would never mess with the greatest segment on television.”
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Ron MacLean – The calm, reasonable MacLean has served as Cherry’s foil on Coach’s Corner since the 1986-87 season. While he’ll continue to co-host the segment, MacLean’s role will be reduced in the new era as his job as host of “Hockey Night in Canada” goes to Stroumboulopoulos. MacLean will continue to host the “Hockey Day in Canada” annual special.
Daren Millard – Millard will host “Wednesday Night Hockey” on Sportsnet, as well as the “Hockey Central At Noon” talk radio show on Sportsnet 590 and Toronto Maple Leafs regional broadcasts. Millard has been with Sportsnet since the network’s inception in 1998.
Jeff Marek – Marek will host “Thursday Night Hockey” on Sportsnet 360, in addition to the weekend afternoon NHL pre-game shows on Sportsnet. He will also host Friday night junior hockey broadcasts and the Memorial Cup. Marek has been host of “Hockey Central” on Sportsnet since 2011, and was also the former host of “Hockey Night in Canada Radio.”
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