TSN and Sportsnet talent joining forces for CBC's Olympic hockey coverage
If you’re watching the Winter Olympics this upcoming February, there’s no need to adjust your TV set: TSN and Sportsnet employees really are working together.
While Canada’s two biggest sports networks typically don’t even mention each other by name while on air, some of their top talent will be working together on the world stage this winter.
CBC has announced a star-studded cast for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, which includes men’s and women’s hockey coverage filled with former players and media household names that typically work on TSN and Sportsnet.
While CBC has been the primary broadcaster of the Olympics in Canada continuously since 2014 (and had held the rights to several Olympic Games before that), it has often dipped into the talent pools of other networks in order to staff its coverage.
And the upcoming Olympics, taking place from Feb. 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will be filled with familiar faces calling the action.
The men’s hockey panel consists of James Duthie, Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Cheryl Pounder.
Chris Cuthbert and former NHL player Mike Johnston will be the lead commentary duo. Matt Cullen and Becky Kellar are also working on play-by-play and analysis, while Kyle Bukauskas will serve as the main rinkside reporter.
Canada will be heavily favoured in a four-team pool of the 12-team tournament that features Czechia, Switzerland, and France. All 12 teams qualify for the playoffs, with the group winners and one second-place team earning a direct spot in the quarterfinals.
On the women’s side, Kenzie Lalonde and Cheryl Pounder will form one commentary duo, while Daniella Ponticelli and Becky Kellar form another. Claire Hanna will be on site as a rinkside reporter.
The women’s panel will be composed of Andi Petrillo, Saroya Tinker, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, and Hailey Salvian.
The Canadian women are in a five-team pool comprised of the USA, Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland. Interestingly, all five teams in the higher-ranked pool are guaranteed a quarterfinal spot, with just three of the five in the secondary pool having a spot in the quarterfinals.