Veteran Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean faced backlash and issued an on-air statement after making a controversial joke referencing “roofies” in a pregame segment during Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.
During a pregame skit spoofing the movie “The Hangover,” Phil Pritchard, the Keeper of the Stanley Cup, was shown passed out on a roof in Las Vegas alongside the Cup.
“The roofies, they’ll get you every time,” MacLean quipped.
The joke, intended as a direct reference to the film’s plot involving date-rape drugs, quickly drew criticism on social media. Many viewers called it tone-deaf, particularly given the timing.
During the second intermission, MacLean addressed the moment directly, acknowledging that the comment had triggered some people and issuing an apology. He clarified the intent was tied to the film parody but recognized the poor timing and sensitivity:
“I want to address something that I said earlier on the broadcast was a bad mistake by me. We had a fun spoof on the movie The Hangover, and I referenced a scene in the movie where the tiger is put to sleep. Mike Tyson’s tiger, the keepers of the cup, of course, are asleep in the skit. And I was making this – I used the term, the slang term, for the drug, which has far more serious connotations in reality.”
“So I know I triggered some people, I know I offended some people with that remark, and I feel very badly for that, and I want to thank you for bringing it to my attention, to our attention. Very sorry,” MacLean admitted.
“It was our time” – Hurricanes HC Rod Brind’Amour shares his thoughts after Stanley Cup win
The Carolina Hurricanes clinched their second Stanley Cup title in franchise history after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final to win the series 4-2.
It marked their first championship since their maiden title in 2006, exactly 20 years ago. This victory also represented the second Stanley Cup for coach Rod Brind’Amour with the Hurricanes, having previously won as team captain in 2006.
Sharing his thoughts after the game, Brind’Amour said (via NHL):
“It was our time. We weren’t going to be denied.”
Captain Jordan Staal was named the Conn Smythe winner as the playoff MVP. With that, the 37-year-old veteran became the oldest player in NHL history to win the playoff MVP award.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta