Ron MacLean gets reduced role at Sportsnet after one of his shows gets the axe

A major part of broadcaster Ron MacLean's role at Sportsnet has come to an end. A report by The Athletic states Roger's Hometown Hockey, which MacLean has hosted for all eight of its seasons, has been cancelled. MacLean's workload will be much lighter, but he's not completely done. He told The Athletic that he will remain the host of Hockey Night in Canada.

"I'll be Saturday night, for sure," said MacLean. "That's the one thing that I'll sort of retain, and stay part of that."

MacLean says his agreement has not been finalized, but one is there "in principle."

As for rumours of a rift between MacLean and Sportsnet, MacLean said he's aware of the rumour, but not how it got started.


"But it's just every year that it seems to find its legs, and every year, it's not true," MacLean insisted. "I can't speak for Sportsnet, but I can speak from my end: I just think it's an exciting time to be around the game."

MacLean seems to have lost a lot of his shine when it comes to audiences. One highly revered, there have been a few instances now where MacLean has said something that didn't sit well with those listening at home. It started, of course, when he appeared to throw longtime partner Don Cherry under the boss after his Remembrance Day rant that got him dropped from the network.

MacLean was a host of Hockey Night in Canada from 1986 to 2014, and then from 2016 to the present.