CBC Announces Return Of Hockey Night In Canada.

The announcement earlier this summer that National Hockey League games would no longer air on CBC's Hockey Night In Canada came as a shock to Canadian hockey fans with the 74 year tradition, quite literally a lifetime of games on Saturday nights, coming to an abrupt end.

While there is no turning back the clock in that regard, on Monday the CBC made a very interesting announcement when they revealed that Hockey Night in Canada would return to Saturday nights but with an entirely new format.

On Monday the CBC officially announced that Hockey Night in Canada would return for its 90th season beginning on December 5th, only this time it will feature games from the Professional Women's Hockey League rather than the NHL. The new partnership will see 8 prime time games air in a time slot that was once reserved for the NHL, something that should bring tremendous exposure to the PWHL which will be entering it's fourth season.

"Our partnership with the PWHL opens a new chapter in sports history," said CBC's executive director of Sports and Olympics, Chris Wilson. "We are proud to announce the return of the iconic Hockey Night in Canada brand, building on this beloved Canadian tradition with the PWHL's growing fanbase and providing audiences across the country with free access to world-class hockey."

PWHL executive vice-president of business operations Amy Scheer was understandably excited at the opportunity to have her league showcased on a platform with such a long standing history and tradition tied to the sport of hockey.

"Hockey Night in Canada is a fixture in Canadian sports culture, and its Saturday night schedule has ritually captivated hockey fans for nearly a century," said Scheer. "The opportunity to be part of this iconic brand represents another groundbreaking step for the PWHL to connect with our fans and forge new traditions together."

It will be very interesting to see how this new partnership will work, I wouldn't be surprised to see Canadian hockey fans rally in support of this new endeavor given just how angry many were at the announcement earlier this summer.