Edmonton-born broadcaster Kelly Hrudey loses Sportsnet contract
The former NHL goaltender, who played 677 games over a 15-year career, says he learned in June that his run with Sportsnet was ending.
Kelly Hrudey, the Edmonton-born former NHL goaltender turned hockey broadcaster, says Sportsnet has not renewed his contract for the upcoming season. Hrudey, 65, retired from playing in 1998 and quickly moved into broadcasting, becoming a regular on Hockey Night in Canada and Calgary Flames regional broadcasts.
During his playing career, Hrudey appeared in 677 NHL games with the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, and reached the Stanley Cup final with the Kings in 1993. He was most recently part of the HNIC studio rotation alongside Ron MacLean, David Amber, Jennifer Botterill, Kevin Bieksa, Luke Gazdic and Elliotte Friedman.
In a video posted to social media, Hrudey said he was told on June 19 that his contract would not be renewed. "So big changes in my life," he said, thanking viewers for their support over the years. He said he does not plan to retire but did not detail his future plans.
The move comes as Rogers-owned Sportsnet overhauls its national NHL broadcasts, which will no longer air on CBC. Rogers has also struck a 12-year sublicensing deal with Amazon Prime Video, giving it exclusive rights to Wednesday night games and some early-round Stanley Cup playoff games.
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