Snoop Dogg sends personal message to Scott Oake during final After Hours show
It’s the end of an era for Hockey Night in Canada.
Veteran reporter Scott Oake is retiring after 37 years working with the Canadian institution. The announcement came earlier this month and mounted anticipation for the 72-year-old’s last edition of the highly popular After Hours segment. That aired this past Saturday in San Jose, with enforcer Ryan Reaves being the honoured final guest.
The segment is also usually joined by another NHL reporter, but that wasn’t the case either. Instead, Oake’s son Darcy was on the other side of Reaves during the interview. It made for an emotional final segment for Oake, who had the attention turned on him for once during After Hours.
There has been so much fanfare about Oake’s departure that even the iconic Snoop Dogg felt compelled to send in a note during the final segment.
“Heyo Scottie, it’s your boy, big Snoop Dogg,” the rapper started off. “Congratulations on the great career. Enjoy retirement, I’ll see you on the golf course, on the green that is.”
Snoop Dogg recorded a message to celebrate @ScottOake's career and Scott's reaction was everything 🥲 pic.twitter.com/uSGATffufU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2026
Choosing Reaves as the final guest was no mistake, as the NHL tough guy has a deep connection to the Oake family in Winnipeg. They were so intertwined growing up that Darcy was Reaves’ best man at his wedding, and Oake officiated the ceremony.
It all stems from happenstance while living in Winnipeg.
“Ryan grew up across the street from us,” Oake said to kick off the segment. “You were right between [my son’s ages] Bruce and Darcy. So good friend to Bruce and best friend to Darcy.
“It’s been a million laughs [interviewing Reaves over the years]…. You’re like one of my kids. Interviewing you is impossible. Any pretence of journalism goes out the window.”
"You're like one of my kids." 🥲@ScottOake on the shenanigans and joy that Ryan Reaves brought to every interview they did together pic.twitter.com/g1ZKSggWT7
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2026
It was certainly a segment to remember for the iconic Hockey Night in Canada reporter, but all good things must come to an end. The entire segment was building up to Oake’s eventual farewell message to all his loyal fans.
He mentioned that it isn’t goodbye just yet, as he will still be reporting throughout the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he still felt the importance of the moment.
“I have had a blast,” Oake said. “I will see you for some playoff hockey before I transition into ‘Who was that guy?’ or ‘Do you remember him?’ and I am just fine with that.
“I thank you for watching tonight and over the years.”
"I have had a blast." 💙
At the conclusion of his final After Hours, @ScottOake shares a final farewell 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/aYyZ4BENWT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2026
In true Oake fashion, and considering Darcy is an award-winning magician, the father-and-son duo concocted a magical exit from the segment. A poof of smoke appeared on screen, but the wily reporter couldn’t quite get the trick right.
It made for quite the meme-able moment.
Now THAT is how you sign off from After Hours for the final time, @ScottOake 👋🐐 pic.twitter.com/hUmBKaOxCS
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2026
Saturday nights won’t feel the same for hockey fans moving forward without Oake and After Hours. Yet, there is no fan who won’t be wishing him all the best in retirement after providing years of award-winning sports journalism.