Kelly Hrudey let go by Sportsnet after 30+ years on the air
Kelly Hrudey’s run with Sportsnet has come to an end.
The former NHL goalie, who spent more than three decades as an analyst with Hockey Night in Canada, revealed his departure from Sportsnet in a video posted to social media.
“On June 19, I was told that my contract was not going to be renewed for the upcoming season,” Hrudey said. “Big changes in my life.”
While the 65-year-old is done at Sportsnet, we likely haven’t seen the last of him.
“This is not a retirement,” Hrudey explained.
Hrudey was hired full-time by CBC in 1998, right after his 677-game NHL career with the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks came to an end. His broadcast career actually began before that, as he worked part-time with Hockey Night in Canada during his final four NHL seasons.
Hrudey followed Hockey Night in Canada to Sportsnet in 2014, when Rogers took over as the exclusive national rights-holder.
View this post on Instagram
Hrudey worked mostly as a studio analyst, but also spent time in the broadcast booth, both on national telecasts and Calgary Flames regional broadcasts.
“I look back and I thank you, the viewer. You might have hated me or loved me. I’m ok with either,” Hrudey said, before thanking all the people he worked with.
“You weren’t a coworker to me, you were a friend. I think of all the people, the producers, the directors, everybody behind the scenes that I worked with… if you were in a control room, production truck somewhere, I thank all of you for your hard work behind the scenes. And, everybody that I was on air with. Man, you guys are the best. I love you so much. I love your support. It was so great and I look back fondly at all of our memories that we created… Thanks for everything.”
Many of Hrudey’s colleagues have responded to his public message, sending their well wishes.
That includes Elliotte Friedman, who says he’s “still shocked.”
“Hard to find the right things to say. Thank you for 22 incredible years,” he added.
Chris Cuthbert was along for the ride for most of Hrudey’s 30 years at Hockey Night in Canada.
“Hard to think of anyone in our business who has had a better Act 1 and 2,” Cuthbert said. “Wishing a great teammate the very best as he embarks on Act 3 in which we know he will shine.”
- You might also like:
- NHL games won't appear on 'Hockey Night in Canada' going forward