APTN airing six NHL contests in Plains Cree and Inuktitut languages
By Sam Laskaris
WINNIPEG – National Hockey League (NHL) fans across the country will once again have several opportunities to hear games broadcast in a pair of Indigenous languages.
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is airing six NHL games nationally during the 2025-26 season.
Three of these matches will be broadcast in the Plains Cree language, and three others will be in Inuktitut.
The first of these games, broadcast in the Inuktitut language, was held on Jan. 10, as the host, Toronto Maple Leafs, blanked the Vancouver Canucks 5-0.
The upcoming contests that will be in Inuktitut will be on Jan. 31 when the New Jersey Devils square off against the host, Ottawa Senators, and the Feb. 28 match featuring the visiting Calgary Flames versus the Los Angeles Kings.
Meanwhile, the three matches that will be broadcast in Plains Cree are set for:
– Mar. 14, San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens
– Mar. 28, Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames
– Apr. 11, Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets
Earl Wood, a member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, has served as the host of the Plains Cree broadcasts since APTN started airing Indigenous language games in 2019.
“It really lends to the energy and the intention of the retention of the language, within the young people,” Wood said of the broadcasts. “And I think it was genius and it was absolutely marvellous to use mainstream sports, professional hockey, as a catalyst and a vehicle to get our language out there.”
Wood believes the APTN matches have been rather beneficial.
“Since then, I’ve seen interest growing in our young people, regarding the language,” he said. “And from here, we can only look forward. And we can only look to bigger and better things.”
This marks the second season that APTN is also broadcasting games in Inuktitut.
“Our relatives from the north have three games as well,” Wood said. “It’s very exciting and a very beautiful language as well. They’re very competent people that sit at the desks on that show. I’m so very proud of those guys, too.”
All of the APTN broadcasts are conducted from a studio in Winnipeg.
Wood is joined on the Plains Cree broadcasts by Clarence Iron, who handles the play-by-play.
Former NHL player John Chabot and Jason Chamakese are both panellists who provide commentary. Meanwhile, Pujjuut Kusugak is the host of the Inuktitut games while David Ningeongan does the play-by-play. Also, Robert Kabvitok is a panellist.
Wood said listeners do not necessarily have to understand the Indigenous languages to enjoy the APTN broadcasts.
“I live not far from a town called St. Paul, Alberta,” he said. “And all our friends out there in St. Paul, they don’t speak Cree. And they’re not Cree. But they enjoy watching the show just because of the language and the way it sounds and the excitement and the spirit and the energy that comes with it. You don’t have to understand Cree to feel the vibratory and the beauty of that Cree language.”
Wood added he’s pleased Inuktitut games are now being included in the national broadcasts.
“We were all very excited for them and we we’re looking forward to it,” he said of last year’s initial Inuktitut games. “And I’m sure with their style they probably had really good response from their young people and their people. And there was probably pride and gratefulness for the older people and from the Elders. They know that we are using whatever means possible to help retain the language for the future generations to come.”
Since he’s involved with games involving six different teams, Wood said a fair amount of research is required beforehand on the participants.
“I kind of try to watch as much hockey as I can,” he said. “I’m just like the NHL guys. I try to read up on and follow the teams, so you can say whatever is important in that short little time of introduction that we have.”