Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) Broadcast Intros from 1977 to 2015

This is a compilation of broadcast intros from Hockey Night in Canada from 1977 to 2015.

1) 1977 - Taken from Retro Quebec, the opening to La Soiree de Hockey was exactly the same as HNIC with different sponsorships.
2) 1981 - Featuring all 7 Canadian teams (featuring sponsorship tag by Molson - before recording cuts out)
3) 1982 - The awful computerized version of the intro & music (features sponsorship tags from Molson, Canadian Tire, General Electric, Esso and Ford)
4) 1985 - A revamped intro that was more polished than 1982 with scored music (sponsorship tags: Molson, Esso & Ford)
5) 1988 - The same intro, with updated sponsorship tags for Molson, Esso and Ford (video vignettes)
6) 1989 - First branded broadcast as Molson HNIC, these are the Stanley Cup Playoff graphics. Also first usage of tagline "The Tradition Continues." Music updated to a more modern score with electric guitar and used as primary score until 1999. (Sponsorship tags: Molson Canadian, Ford, Pepsi, & Esso)
7) 1990 - Stanley Cup edition - continuation of previous year.
8) 1993 - CBC Sports ID tied into the HNIC Graphics (sponsorship tags: Molson Dry & Ford)
9) 1995 - Abridged version shown after the lockout was lifted.
10) 1996-97 Season - 1997 Stanley Cup Final graphic package - first time using NHL video clips and removal of sponsorship tags until first commercial break)
11) 1995-96 - CBC Sports ID + Stanley Cup Playoff Package (in reverse order from the video - apologies)
12) 1998 - Updated graphic presentation, revised wordmark. This was the final year of Molson sponsorship of HNIC.
13) 1999 - All new intro with live action hockey players, an improved rock guitar score, 360 camera work, sound effects and a brand new logo/emblem. First year with Labatt as the primary sponsor.
14) 2000 - CBC Sports ID (2000 olympics) + revamped theme to have more of a "classic" feel with historic clips in B+W merged with modern clips.
15) 2002 - Revision of past/present style clip montage with graphic package + updated theme song with re-introduction of brass fanfare during theme. Final year for Labatt sponsorship of HNIC.
16) 2003 - Introduction of animated pond hockey sequence.
17) 2007 - Updated graphic package featuring live action + NHL clips and Foster Hewitt intro. Final intro using classic HNIC theme.
18) 2008 - All new animated graphics package featuring merged video clips and a brand new theme by Colin Oberst entitled 'Canadian Gold.'
19) 2012 - Improved graphic presentation using 2008 intro as a base, updated for HNIC 60th season.
20) 2014-2015 - Completely new graphics package featuring clips and audio from the past/present, a heavily modified orchestral arrangement of the theme song (Canadian Gold) introducing the Rogers Media brand consolidation with Sportsnet.

[davidtroppens]

I still can't believe they got rid of the original song. It was Canada's unofficial second National Anthem. That song just means hockey to me;.

[SimTripps]

My dad played lead trumpet on the old 70s/early 80s recording :)

[Kimchii_kk]

Rest in Peace, Dolores Claman. The composer of Canada's unofficial national anthem passed away earlier today.

[KKAkuoku]

There's a pretty damn good reason why the 1989 theme is used six times straight here.

[billkahler]

I grew up in Detroit and by god, those 1995-2002 intros are my childhood. Watched all the Wings playoff games on CBC with Bob Cole instead of the American TV. I'm glad I moved away before the theme changed.

[gocanuckurself]

Hockey Night just aint been the same since they took away that song. That song is Canadian iconography.

[firespicex]

This is what HNIC was back in the it defined every Saturday night....will never be the same like back then

[DavidBrooks-em]

As a kid who grew up watching HNIC every satourday night in the late 80's through the 90's, those brought back a lot of memories!  Thanks so much for sharing!  I enjoyed every single intro, some were better than others.  The opening CBC sports montage in 2000 was epic, with the fireball rolling down the CBC Bullivard, and showing clips of all the other sports championship celebrations.  2008 was also done up very nice with a birds eye view of inside the stadium with everyone cheering, followed by a fantasy faceoff with Crosby vs Gretzky.

[horacesilver]

My two favs....2003 because the way they connected the excitement of kid (scoring) on the pond to the music gave you goosebumps, and was a beautiful way to capture hockey's roots. The second, 2008 because although the original music is iconic...the new song is great in its own right and the editing, references to past broadcasters was awesome

[Raff]

My god. The ones from 2002 and 2003 just brought me right back to my childhood

[SaskTransfer]

2007 and 2008 were both so iconic for my generation. Absolutely love it

[millionfish]

The 2003 one gave me chills. I can't believe what Rogers did to HNIC. This generation of kids will grow up not knowing what HNIC was like before, and that's a damn shame. I miss everything: The opening intros, The epic montages from Tim Thompson, The studio, Ron Maclean, The intermission segments, The feeling you got every Saturday night. My favorite memory was 2006, Sundin scoring his 500th in OT with Bob Cole calling the game! Rogers has ruined everything: Replacing Ron with a guy who knows nothing about Hockey in Strombo, The opening intros, The song, That studio which looks like something that came from a U.S network, The segments where they have guys in suits explain simple things, The non-stop ads about "Rogers GameCenter Live" "Honda Live Tracker", Cutting Ron and Don's airtime so we have to listen to Kypreos and that awful panel, Making Ron do that Hometown crap so he's not in the studio as much to do Coach's Corner, Making us buy cable packages to watch playoff games that usually were on CBC. The ratings are reflecting the changes, and they aren't good. I just wish we could go back to the days where TSN had the cable rights, and CBC had Saturday nights. Rogers was the best when they were irrelevant.

[The_Frozen_]

I still love the 2007 version. It's that perfect mix of pro hockey with a nod to the everyday hockey players in backyard rinks and rec leagues. Plus to have Foster Hewitt's voice be the first thing you hear.... just great!

[michaelidziak]

Hello. I live in Michigan and I grew up on Hockey Night in Canada. This is cool. One of the reasons I grew up a Canucks fan and still today. Thanks for sharing.

[lenmoskalyk]

About the only thing CBC ever got right was Hockey Night in Canada. I grew up in the 70's watching Leaf games with my Dad. Memories I will always cherish. It's just not the same. Hearing the voices of Foster and Bill Hewitt along with Danny Gallivan brought back some good times sitting in front of the old black and white Viking Eaton's TV. Life stopped every Saturday at 8 o'clock.

[byff]

Growing up in the US (please don't hold that against me) I never got to see HNIC. I've seen a little over the last few years and couldn't understand the big deal over CBC losing the rights to "The Hockey Song". But seeing this video, I now understand. I COMPLETELY understand.

[philt]

1981 I was 12. This was my best days and memories for HNIC. Fast forward to 2003 it reminded me of me on the pond. Happy Days....HNIC SUCKED from 08
Thank you for showing this and keeping HNIC real.

[gregchandler]

US hockey fan who grew up in Detroit watching HNIC on Saturday nights. Greatest sports theme song ever!

[mohammedkhaleel]

I grew up in Detroit... we would get the CBC affiliate on our tv, and Saturday night would always have a hockey game on... and that song got u in the mood for a big game ...watched all those great red wing playoff and finals games on CBC...

[KKAkuoku]

There’s something about those intros with Dave Hodge’s voiceover that feel like mini epics to me. It’s as if hearing the old HNIC theme felt like you arrived at a grand, glorious castle that you’ve always dreamt about and Mr. Hodge’s voice is like someone welcoming you at the front doors with open arms.