S2 Ep97: Remembering HNIC: Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey on Life Behind The Camera at Hockey Night In Canada

John Shannon opens with Hockey Night in Canada veteran Scott Oake for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about a career that spanned decades of Canadian broadcasting.

Scott traces his earliest memories of watching Hockey Night growing up in Newfoundland, his evolution from rinkside host to the face of After Hours, and the lasting influence of legendary broadcaster Don Wittman, who drilled into him the value of thorough preparation. That preparation paid off most famously in 2007, when Scott spent two hours rehearsing in front of a mirror before sitting down with Snoop Dogg at the Stanley Cup Finals — producing one of the most talked-about interviews in Hockey Night history. He also reflects on working alongside Dick Irvin at the Montreal Forum, his early interview with Brian Burke, and the bittersweet reality of the show's cancellation just ten days before this conversation.

Daren Millard then joins John as the focus shifts to Kelly Hrudey, who shares the remarkable story of how his Hockey Night career began — stepping in as a studio host in 1995, finding himself alongside Don Cherry and Ron McLean on a brand new playoff studio show.

Kelly opens up about the steep learning curve of transitioning from player to broadcaster, from mastering the telestrator to understanding production cues, and recalls standout moments including covering Mario Lemieux's emotional return in 2000 and working the Olympics. Woven throughout is the story of his deep friendship with Scott Oake, and John Shannon's own fond recollection of first meeting Kelly on a flight from LA to Edmonton during the 1989 playoffs — a friendship now spanning more than 30 years.