NHL announces major changes to playoffs ahead of game 1

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Austin Sabourin
June 7, 2024 (10:07)

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The NHL has announced some major changes to the playoffs broadcast ahead of game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Yesterday it was announced that CBC will be doing the first ever American Sign Language coverage on Hockey Night in Canada for the Stanley Cup Finals.

This will be the first time ever that any major sports league will have American Sign Language coverage. What a step the NHL is taking!

"This is a great first step of having representation, having deaf people on screen, having the Deaf community connect to people like them," said Brice Christianson, the founder and CEO of P-X-P, the company who will be doing the broadcast. "For the NHL to sign off on this and to believe in this, it's groundbreaking. It's truly historic and also they've doubled down and said that they want to continue to do this."

The NHL is trying to find ways to make it more inclusive and this is a perfect way to do that with people who are hearing impaired.

"For us to be able to have this real-time coverage of play by play and colour commentary in American Sign Language being called directly as opposed to a re-interpretation is really what the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community want," said Kim Davis, the NHL's senior executive VP of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs.

"It's what they deserve. That makes the game truly meaningful for them. It is not like you're re-interpreting for them basically from another language. They are hearing the game live in their own language and the way in which they understand it best."

The NHL is taking a big step forward with trying to involve everyone with the sport by doing this! Do you think this is a good move for the NHL?

As seen on Hockeyfeed - CBC announces more inclusive broadcasts for Stanley Cup Final