Kevin Bieksa Finally Addresses Rumors About His Alleged Termination from Sportsnet
PUBLICATION
Travis Neil
July 18, 2023 (1:29 PM)
Ron MacLean has been the host of the Hockey Night In Canada for the past 37 years which makes him the longest tenure host in Sportsnet.
Bieksa, a former NHL defenseman who played for the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks, was also rumoured to have lost his job at HNIC and Sportsnet.
Kevin Bieksa confirms he is back!
The Rumors
Rumors had been floating around that after a tough season for the Sportsnet Panel that MacLean's time with Sportsnet had come to an end.
With longtime Rogers/Sportsnet employee Howard Berger reporting that the only one safe was Elliotte Friedman.
We may not recognize the Hockey Night In Canada panel next season. Based on what I'm told, only Elliotte Friedman is safe from the changes and cost�cutting measures on the horizon.»
- Howard Berger
Berger then went into detail about MacLean's position.
Hockey Night studio commentators Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, Kevin Bieksa and Jennifer Botterill remains to be determined, but MacLean's future, in particular, seems tenuous. For the bulk of 37 years � by far the longest tenure of any person � MacLean has hosted Hockey Night intermissions, taking over (in 1986) from Dave Hodge.
- Howard Berger
MacLean Addresses the Rumors
Despite all of the rumors and talking it looks like Ron MacLean will be back for another year.
The Fan's Reactions
Canadian hockey fans have not taking this news too pleasantly.
Many more reactions like this can be found on the Twitter post.
Fans have not liked the way MacLean's panel has been constructed, he took over after Don Cherry was fired in 2019.
As Seen on Hockeyfeed - Ron MacLean finally breaks his silence on rumored firing from CBC and Sportsnet
| POLL |
JUILLET 18 | 1146 ANSWERS Kevin Bieksa Finally Addresses Rumors About His Alleged Termination from Sportsnet Are you glad to see Kevin Bieksa back? |
| Yes | 930 | 81.2 % |
| No | 216 | 18.8 % |
| List of polls |
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Previously on HockeyPatrol
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531249.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531292.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
