Rogers Media today finally confirmed what’s been reported, that George Stroumboulopoulos has been let go as host of Hockey Night in Canada and Ron MacLean will return to the big chair on Saturday nights.
But also changing is a lot of other jobs in Sportsnet’s hockey broadcasting team, both national and regional broadcasts. Among them, in-game analyst Glenn Healy, studio analysts P.J. Stock, Billy Jaffe and Corey Hirsch, and regional game studio hosts Leah Hextall (Flames) and Chantal Desjardins (Canadiens).
Good to know I have options… pic.twitter.com/grihvfD1Ju
— Chantal Desjardins (@ChantalOnAir) June 28, 2016
Good thing my kids have a sense of humour. #anyoneneedagardiner? pic.twitter.com/LqywGZv7Up
— PJ Stock (@PJStock28) June 28, 2016
Thrilled to join @espn as hockey returns to the Worldwide leader in Sports! I promise to play nice w/ Chelios? https://t.co/S5vQ4vgQff
— Leah Hextall (@leahhextall) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/CoreyHirsch/status/747495513604268033
Desjardins mainly hosted the regional Canadiens broadcasts from the Toronto studio, but would also work as a rinkside reporter during some national broadcasts.
Desjardins and Stock worked together at CHOM before getting jobs at Sportsnet. In 2010, they hosted the morning show with Pete Marier after Ted Bird left the station. Marier was also let go this past week.
The Globe and Mail reports Sportsnet will be airing national pregame shows instead of regional ones before regional hockey games, which would reduce the need for staff.
UPDATE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman offers a tribute to his dismissed colleagues at the end of this column.