Legendary Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) broadcaster Scott Oake has announced he’ll be retiring following the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Announced on Sportsnet’s After Hours on Saturday night, Oake has been part of the HNIC broadcast team since 1989 and has hosted the second game of the Saturday night headers since the 2003-04 season, alongside Kelly Hrudey, Marc Crawford, Kevin Weekes, and more recently Louie DeBrusk.
Oake got his start in broadcasting as a pre-med student at the campus radio station at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL. He went on to join CBC St. John’s, dropping out of school to join the public broadcaster full-time in 1974, before relocating to Winnipeg in 1979 to anchor sports for CBC Winnipeg supper hour newscast 24Hours – a position he remained in until 1989. In addition to hockey, Oake has covered 12 Olympic Games for CBC, CFL football, and hosted hockey reality series, Making the Cut.
As announced on After Hours, legendary Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Scott Oake is retiring following the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Next Saturday night will be Scott’s final episode of After Hours. Congratulations, Scott, on a remarkable career! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Y0lxmZI9VY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 5, 2026
Oake told viewers the decision to retire is his and he’s going out on his own terms.
“And I greatly appreciate the opportunity because not everybody in this business gets it,” Oake said. “Rogers, Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada would have had me continue, but as I’ve said to more than a few people, 50 years in this business is more than anyone should have to take of me…so it’s time.”
“Scott has been a trusted voice and steady presence on Hockey Night in Canada for more than three decades, earning the respect of viewers, colleagues and athletes alike,” Sportsnet said in a statement. “Through his thoughtful reporting, genuine compassion, and unwavering professionalism, he has helped tell the stories that define hockey.”
Among other accolades, Oake won the 2003 Gemini Award for Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast. He was installed as a Member of the Order of Canada last year and named to the Order of Manitoba in 2020. In 1996, he was named to the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Roll of Honour.
He’ll make his final appearance on Hockey Night in Canada and After Hours on April 11.
