Longtime sports broadcaster Scott Oake, known for his work on Hockey Night in Canada and CBC Sports, has announced his retirement following the conclusion of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Oake revealed his decision during the After Hours post-game show on Saturday. Expressing gratitude for his more than 50 years in the industry, Oake stated that it’s time for him to step back, noting that he is departing on his own terms.
His final appearance on the After Hours program is scheduled for April 11, coinciding with the last Saturday of the NHL’s regular season. Oake’s career began in St. John’s, N.L., before he transitioned to Winnipeg in the late 1970s to pursue sports broadcasting. Joining the Hockey Night in Canada team about ten years later, he has been a familiar face on the ice for Canadian hockey enthusiasts ever since.
Beyond his broadcasting role, Oake has been actively involved in advocating for addiction recovery and support services, a cause that became personal after the tragic loss of his 25-year-old son to an accidental overdose in 2011. His contributions have been recognized with memberships in the Order of Manitoba and the Order of Canada, as well as an induction into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
In response to Oake’s retirement announcement, Sportsnet commended his remarkable career and impact on Canadian sports broadcasting. Describing him as a trusted voice and respected figure on Hockey Night in Canada for over three decades, Sportsnet praised Oake’s professionalism, compassion, and storytelling abilities that have shaped the narrative of hockey in Canada. The network thanked him for his significant contributions and acknowledged his impending absence from the broadcasting scene.
CBC News attempted to reach out to Oake for further comments on Sunday.