A new Saturday night tradition
Beginning Dec. 5, Hockey Night in Canada will air eight primetime PWHL games on Saturday nights. The first broadcast has the defending Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire hosting Hamilton's expansion team, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
What CBC executives are saying
Chris Wilson, CBC's executive director of Sports and Olympics, called the partnership the start of "a new chapter in sports history." On the league side, PWHL executive vice-president of business operations Amy Scheer pointed to the weight of the Hockey Night in Canada brand itself, noting its Saturday night schedule has "ritually captivated hockey fans for nearly a century."
More shows on the way
The PWHL deal isn't the only new programming. CBC Sports Primetime, a new weekly Saturday show, debuts Oct. 3 and will be hosted by Andi Petrillo. Radio-Canada is launching its own companion show, Rendez-vous Podium, on Oct. 18, hosted by Jacinthe Taillon. CBC has also acquired exclusive audio broadcast rights for all Victoire games in Canada for the 2026-27 season, meaning fans who can't catch the TV broadcast will still have a way to follow along.
Why it matters here
The timing also closes a loop that started this past summer. On June 16, 2026, Sportsnet and Rogers announced the end of their NHL broadcast partnership with CBC, leaving Hockey Night in Canada's future in doubt.
For a city that has embraced women's hockey enthusiastically, from packed local rinks to junior programs feeding into the sport, having PWHL games on free, over-the-air television is a meaningful boost in accessibility. The full schedule announcement on Oct. 2 should make clear how often, if at all, Ottawa fans will get to see the Victoire and the rest of the league on national broadcast.
Sources: Yahoo Sports (Canada), Yahoo Sports
