Indigenous broadcaster APTN announced Monday it is teaming up again with Rogers’s Sportsnet to bring a third season of Hockey Night in Canada in Cree to its viewers as well as three NHL games broadcast in Inuktitut for the first time.
Available on the APTN and APTN Languages channels, Hockey Night in Canada in Cree features play-by-play commentary from Clarence Iron, joined by analysts Earl Wood, John Chabot and Jason Chamakese. Hockey Night in Canada in Inuktitut will be hosted by Pujjuut Kusugak and David Ningeongan.
The games to be broadcast in Plains Cree will feature the Winnipeg Jets vs. the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. ET, the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. ET, and the Winnipeg Jets vs. the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. ET.
The games scheduled to be broadcast in Inuktitut include the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Dallas Stars on Saturday, March 8 at 10 p.m. ET, the Ottawa Senators vs. the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. ET, and the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. ET.
“This season of Hockey Night in Canada in Cree and Inuktitut marks an exciting step forward in enhancing Indigenous language content in partnership with Sportsnet,” Mike Omelus, APTN executive director of content and strategy, said in a press release. “Expanding the broadcast to include both Plains Cree and Inuktitut showcases our commitment to fostering language revitalization and connecting communities through the power of sport. With the launch of APTN Languages, we’re proud to continue breaking new ground by bringing meaningful content to audiences across the country.”
Artwork borrowed from APTN’s website
