Give Me A Little Journalism

It was opening night for the NHL this evening with five games on the schedule, but I really didn't care to watch any of them. However, getting an invitation to head out with friends for some socializing over good food and beverages is something I won't turn down, and we landed at a lounge where the TVs all had NHL hockey on. Discussions and debates were had throughout the night, but there was one where I sat quietly and listened as my party on this night discussed the return of Hockey Night in Canada to CBC carrying PWHL games.

Make no mistake that there was nothing overly disrespectful said in this discussion as everyone agreed that having Hockey Night in Canada on CBC felt like hockey season was indeed back. No one really had a problem if here was no Ron MacLean nor Bob Cole on the women's hockey broadcasts, but there was concern over how the CBC would approach subjects where the PWHL seemingly gives no clear answers. As one person at the table made clear, "This can't just be another network that smooths over the potholes they created."

That line hit home for me because there are still topics that the PWHL does its best to avoid and journalists seemingly never press them on when it comes to the operation of the league. We saw Ron MacLean and Gary Bettman clash a handful of times during interviews about topics where the NHL was trying to control the narrative, and we've seen the PWHL begin to use this method when temperatures rise surrounding certain subjects. Transparency would be better.

When Jason and I spoke to Karissa Donkin on The Hockey Show, we made it a point to ask Miss Donkin if she had heard any news about the PWHL's gender policy with respect to transgender players. Karissa confirmed at that time that there had been no new developments on that front, but that she would ask more questions when she could. With the NWHL having had Harrison Browne and the CWHL having had Jessica Platt on their rosters of players, you'd think that the PWHL would have already crafted some sort of policy to help transgender players understand where they fit or don't fit into the PWHL.

That policy still hasn't materialized despite the league preparing for Season Four of play. How much longer will they avoid this topic?

Perhaps the PWHL is avoiding the topic altogether due to the current legal battles going in the United States where eight of their twelve teams play. It even reached the highest levels of the US government, but that shouldn't allow the PWHL to just fade into the background over this topic. Why not say they're awaiting a clear decision from US government amidst the current political debate on the topic?

That's just one of the topics that the PWHL needs to address along with ownership questions and investments made, Mark Walter's future support of the league with the US government investigating him, and the constant talk of future expansion, and this is where the CBC and Hockey Night in Canada could really emerge as the leader in women's hockey if they push their interviewers to dig into stories, not shy away from potential league criticism of coverage, and hold people accountable in similar fashion to how Hockey Night in Canada did.

It seems pretty obvious that Andi Petrillo will be joined by The Athletic's Hailey Salvian who has asked tougher questions of the league at times, and my hope is that they bring Karissa Donkin in for her work in covering the game. I don't know if Jennifer Botterill will have time, but any combination of her, Sami Jo Small, and Christine Simpson would be good people to really push PWHL executives for answers as they know about the gaps the league needs to address.

It's the journalism done by Hockey Night in Canada that made it the institution that Canadians relied upon for hockey news. The Satellite Hotstove component with some the brightsest women's hockey reporters - Emily Kaplan, Saira Peesker, Jacinthe Taillon - could be an incredible place to break stories, discuss topics, and inform viewers on more of the inside stuff happening arounf the league. The CBC simply cannot shy away from hard questions when it comes to interviews. The journalism is what set CBC's Hockey Night in Canada apart from its competitiors, and that effort needs to continue.

Am I happy that Hockey Night in Canada is back? Absolutely. As stated, it's a Canadian institution, and I'm happy that the CBC is moulding to be something more. However, if it's just going to another facade for the PWHL where everything is rainbows and butterflies, expect me to sour quickly on it. Journalism was one of the best parts of Hockey Night in Canada in the past, and my hope is this new venture will uphold that standard set in the progra's coverage of the NHL. Journalism is about finding transparency and accountability, and Hockey Night in Canada set that standard with its hockey coverage.

Maybe my expectations won't be met with this new iteration of Hockey Night in Canada. Maybe I'll continue to be frustrated by the lack of transparency and accountability shown by the PWHL when it comes to long-term strategies and policies. What I can't be disappointed in, however, is CBC finding a way to resurrect the Hockey Night in Canada brand where, I hope, its journalistic efforts will be identical or better than what we saw with their NHL coverage.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!