Ron MacLean apologizes for offensive joke told on 'Hockey Night in Canada'
One of Hockey Night in Canada‘s most recognizable broadcasters got himself in hot water on Sunday.
Ron MacLean has apologized after telling an offensive joke live on the air during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The incident came following a skit that involved Sportsnet reporter Kyle Bukauskas and the Keepers of the Cup, Phil Pritchard and Craig Campbell. It was a spoof of The Hangover, involving Pritchard and Campbell being passed out after a night of partying in Las Vegas, while Bukauskas tries to wake them up.
As the skit was coming to an end, MacLean chimed in with a joke that offended viewers.
“So good, Kyle. The roofies, they’ll get you every time!” MacLean said.
Ron McLean actively trying to get himself into an early retirement tonight by making a roofie joke.
“the roofies, they’ll get you every time.”
Don’t even try to suggest this isn’t worse than what Cherry was done in for. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/gFp0omVe8m
— Daniel Perianu (@perianudan) June 15, 2026
Roofies are commonly known as a drug that incapacitates people and is often associated with being used in sexual assaults.
MacLean apologized later in the broadcast.
“We had a fun spoof on the movie The Hangover, and I referenced a scene in the movie where Mike Tyson’s tiger is put to sleep,” MacLean said. “The Keepers of the Cup, of course, are asleep in the skit, and I used the slang term for the drug, which has far more serious connotations in reality, and I should have made that connection. I did not.
“I know I triggered some people, I know I offended some people with that remark, and I feel very badly for that. I want to thank you for bringing it to my attention, to our attention, and I’m very sorry.”
Ron Maclean apologizes for this comment #NHLplayoffs #StanleyCup https://t.co/QvldmCKbHk pic.twitter.com/1NqXYu6ZgG
— bnpeki 🇨🇦 Matthew Knies Enjoyer (@bnpeki) June 15, 2026
Fans may remember that MacLean was live on the air during another controversial Hockey Night in Canada broadcast earlier in his career. During a 2019 Coaches’ Corner segment, he was sitting beside Don Cherry as the latter made an offensive remark that resulted in him being fired.
It remains to be seen if there are any further consequences for MacLean’s slip-up or if the on-air apology is enough to get past the unfortunate moment.