Hockey People & Personalities: Weekes To Make "HNIC" Debut

Weekes Making His Regular- Season TV Debut Tonight

In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich notes former NHLer Kevin Weekes, the newest addition to the CBC's pool of "HNIC" analysts, will make his regular-season TV debut during tonight's Canucks-Flames game. Weekes, who will be the "first black Canadian" on the show, said, "It's nice to be able to help to grow the look and feel of our sport." Weekes is "one of several new faces on TV this season." Former NHLPA Dir of Player Affairs Glenn Healy has returned to "HNIC" and will "give the broadcasts something new," as he will "analyze games from between the benches, much the way he did on TSN and Leafs TV." Also joining the CBC is cartoon character Peter Puck, who will focus on instruction during the pregame show. Meanwhile, TSN has added former Oilers coach Craig MacTavish to its studio show (TORONTO STAR, 10/1). SI.com's Michael Farber wrote "for better or worse Canada, like the game, has evolved," and with the addition of Weekes, "HNIC" "tacitly has acknowledged that." The broadcast booth "will look a little more like Canada" with the addition of Weekes (SI.com, 9/30).

ON THE AIR: Former NHL Exec VP/Production & Programming John Shannon is joining Rogers Sportsnet's "Hockeycentral" panel (CP, 9/28). Shannon said that his "focus will be on the on-ice stories more than" the business side of the sport. Shannon: "I'm a fan first. I don't want to hear about the litigious goings-on with the union now that the season is starting. Let's play hockey." Meanwhile, the GLOBE & MAIL's Bruce Dowbiggin noted Shannon also is "expected to be appointed as a media consultant to the OHL as early as today." The OHL "wants Shannon to help guide its televised product into the future" (GLOBESPORTS.com, 9/30).