Amazon Prime launches “Wednesday Night Hockey” in Canada with bilingual broadcasts and the “Home Ice Access” feature

Amazon Prime has begun a 12-year deal to stream the “Wednesday Night Hockey” show in Canada, which this season includes 27 national regular-season games. The season opens Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena, with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET), a matchup expected to feature forward Gavin McKenna, Toronto’s first pick of the 2026 draft, and defenseman Matthew Schaefer, New York’s first pick of the 2025 draft.

As the NHL reports, broadcasts move from the previous Monday-night programming and will now be in both languages, English and French, for every game. In addition to the regular games, the deal includes the right to stream two first-round series and one second-round series of the Stanley Cup playoffs at no extra cost to Prime members.

Amazon says the focus is on improving the viewer experience and on innovation. One of the most highlighted innovations is the “Home Ice Access” feature, which gives viewers access inside the bench and the stands half an hour before the official start of the broadcast, with segments like “Eavesdropping” that bring closer the arena atmosphere and the dialogue between commentators and the personnel on the ice.

The English-language broadcast team will consist of commentator John Forslund, with analysts Jody Shelley and Thomas Hickey and rinkside reporter Andi Petrillo. For the French-language broadcast, Alain Crete will share commentating duties with Michael Roy, while Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre will serve as analyst. Forslund brings over 40 years of broadcasting experience and is expected to help develop the new form of the show without losing the classic elements the Canadian audience demands.

According to the NHL, this strategy aims to bring viewers closer to the game and to keep evolving the broadcast product, maintaining a strong base of traditional content while adding interactive elements for Prime members.