''Hockey Central'' is the brand used for programs and segments covering hockey (particularly the National Hockey League) on the Canadian

sports channel Sports channels are television speciality channels (usually available exclusively through cable and satellite) broadcast sporting events, usually live, and when not broadcasting events, sports news and other related programming. The first sport ...

Sportsnet Sportsnet is a Canadian English-language sports specialty channel owned by Rogers Sports & Media. It was established in 1998 as CTV Sportsnet, a joint venture between CTV, Liberty Media, and Rogers Media. CTV parent Bell Globemedia then ...

. The ''Hockey Central'' name encompasses several programs, including segments aired during '' Sportsnet Central'', pre-game reports for Hockey Night in Canada and other

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

telecasts on Sportsnet, CBC,

Citytv Citytv is a Canadian television network owned by the Rogers Sports & Media subsidiary of Rogers Communications. The licence of the original Citytv station, granted the callsign of CITY-TV by the CRTC on November 25, 1971 to Cable Television Ass ...

, and the

Sportsnet 590 CJCL (590 AM, ''Sportsnet 590 The Fan'') is a Canadian sports radio station in Toronto, Ontario. Owned and operated by Rogers Sports & Media since 2002, CJCL's studios are located at the Rogers Building at Bloor and Jarvis in downtown Toron ...

radio show ''Hockey Central at Noon''.

Overview

Format

The typical format of ''Hockey Centrals segments during ''Sportsnet Central'' and the Saturday show is a four-person panel of former NHL players, coaches, and GMs alongside hockey reporters and broadcasters. The members of the panel vary from day to day, but are usually from the same small pool of regulars. The show is known for (and often promotes) its sometimes fiery debates between Bill Watters and

Nick Kypreos Nikos "Nick" Kypreos (born June 4, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs ...

. In the summer of 2006, host Darren Dreger left Sportsnet to join

TSN TSN may refer to: Science and technology * Translin, DNA binding protein involved in microRNA function * Taxonomic serial number, a stable and unique taxonomic serial number issued by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System * The Science Netwo ...

and in 2018, Daren Millard left the network, and in 2021,

Jeff Marek Jeffrey James Marek (born Keegan Sean Laughlin, July 9, 1969) is a television personality and radio host for properties originating from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. Jeff has hosted ''Live Audio Wrestling'', ''Leafs Lunch'' (cohosted with former ...

moved to an NHL insider role.

Caroline Cameron Caroline Cameron (born March 23, 1990) is a Canadian television sportscaster for Sportsnet. Cameron is the host of "Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey" as well as the pre-game program ''Hockey Central'' Tonight, four nights a week, regional interm ...

and

David Amber David Amber (born April 21, 1971) is a Canadian anchor for Sportsnet as a host and reporter. He is best known for his time doing ''NHL On the Fly'' on the NHL Network and as the anchor for ''Gate 5 Live'', ''Raptors Pregame'', and ''Raptors Po ...

are the current hosts of most of the ''Hockey Central'' segments appearing on Sportsnet. As of Rogers' 2014-15 rights deal, ''Hockey Central Saturday'' replaced ''Scotiabank Hockey Tonight'' as the pre-game show for '' Hockey Night in Canada'', airing in simulcast with Sportsnet and

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

. During the

2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 30, 2013, following the conclusion of the 2012–13 NHL regular season. The regular season was shortened to 48 games, and the playoffs pushed to a later date, due ...

, The Score (after its purchase by Rogers) aired a nightly ''Hockey Central Playoff Xtra''.

Radio versions

Sportsnet's radio stations also air hockey-oriented programs under the same or similar titles, often with a focus on news and analysis relating to their local teams.

''Hockey Central'' on CJCL

Rogers' Toronto radio station

CJCL CJCL (590 AM, ''Sportsnet 590 The Fan'') is a Canadian sports radio station in Toronto, Ontario. Owned and operated by Rogers Sports & Media since 2002, CJCL's studios are located at the Rogers Building at Bloor and Jarvis in downtown Toron ...

broadcasts a radio version of the show, initially known as ''Hockey Central at Noon'', which is simulcast by

Sportsnet 360 Sportsnet 360 (SN360) is a Canadian discretionary specialty channel owned by Rogers Media. The channel was launched in 1994 as the licence-exempt service Sportscope, which featured a display of sports news and scores. In 1997, the network was ...

. It is currently hosted by

and features Anthony Stewart as an analyst.

fills in for Marek on Wednesdays. The program was originally hosted by Daren Millard. Between August 2010 and March 2011, it was hosted by Greg Brady, who worked the noon to 3pm shift. In March 2011, Brady was reassigned to the morning show and Millard returned as host. Jeff Marek replaced Daren Millard as host in 2018. When Brady was unable to host ''Hockey Central at Noon'', Doug Farraway served as fill-in host. During the summer (from mid-June until September) during Millard's first hosting stint, Farraway took over the hosting duties from him, with

Howard Berger Howard Berger (born 20 December 1964) is a special make-up effects creator who is best known for his work on ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' films. He has over 200 films to his credit since 1977. Berger is the co-founder of KNB EFX Group along wit ...

serving as fill-in for Farraway. In October 2019 as part of changes to CJCL's lineup, the program expanded to two hours. The program has a national focus; CJCL airs a Toronto Maple Leafs-focused program immediately before ''Hockey Central'', the ''Leafs Hour'', with Ben Ennis and JD Bunkis.

''Hockey Central 960''

CFAC in Calgary broadcasts ''Hockey Central 960'', which is hosted by Kelly Kirch and Peter Klein. The program primarily focuses on coverage of the Calgary Flames.

''Canucks Central at Noon''

CISL in Vancouver broadcasts ''Canucks Central at Noon'', which is hosted by Scott Rintoul and Bik Nizzar, and focuses on the Vancouver Canucks.

Personalities

* Christine Simpson *

* Anthony Stewart *

Justin Bourne Justin Bourne (born December 12, 1982) is an American sportswriter. A former professional ice hockey player, he has also coached professionally, most recently as an assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Playing ca ...

Sam Cosentino Salvatore "Sam" Cosentino (born March 16, 1971) is a Canadian sportscaster who currently works as a junior hockey analyst on Rogers Sportsnet. Baseball Cosentino attended Spring Arbor College in Spring Arbor, Michigan, where he played baseball an ...

* Elliotte Friedman * Jennifer Botterill *

Cassie Campbell-Pascall Cassie Dawin Campbell-Pascall (born November 22, 1973) is a former Canadian ice hockey player and a current broadcaster for Sportsnet and ESPN. Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Campbell grew up in Brampton, Ontario, playing for the Brampton Canad ...

* Anson Carter * Keith Yandle * Ron MacLean (''Hockey Central Saturday'' only) * Kelly Hrudey (''Hockey Central Saturday'' only) * Kevin Bieksa (''Hockey Central Saturday'' only)

Former personalities

* Greg Brady (''Hockey Central at Noon'' only) *Mike Brophy *Chantal Desjardins (''Canadiens Central'' only) * Glenn Healy *Leah Hextall (''Hockey Central Alberta'' only) *

Pierre LeBrun Pierre LeBrun is a Canadian sportscaster and writer working for TSN, where he is a TSN Hockey Insider, and regularly appears on hockey-related broadcasts. He is also a senior NHL columnist for the American-based Internet outlet ''The Athletic'', an ...

* Doug MacLean *

Daren Millard Daren Millard (born August 16, 1970 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada) is a Canadian sportscaster. Millard began his broadcasting career in radio as he worked in cities including Melfort, Saskatchewan, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Yorkton, Saskatche ...

* John Shannon *

P.J. Stock Philip Joseph Stock (born May 26, 1975) is a Canadians, Canadian Sports commentator, sports broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player. After retiring as a player in 2004, he hosted a radio show on Montreal station CKGM (AM), Team 99 ...

George Stroumboulopoulos George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos (; Greek: Γεώργιος Μάρκος Παύλος Στρουμπουλόπουλος; born August 16, 1972) is a Canadian media personality. He is one of Canada's most popular broadcasters and best known as fo ...

(''Hockey Central Saturday'' only)

References

External links

Hockey Central Page

Hockey Central at Noon page from Fan590.com
{{National Hockey League on national television 2000s Canadian sports television series National Hockey League on television National Hockey League on the radio Sportsnet shows 2010s Canadian sports television series