Canadian broadcaster Ron MacLean apologized on air for a remark he made during Sportsnet’s pregame coverage of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
During Sunday’s broadcast, the network aired a satirical skit in reference to the movie “The Hangover,” where Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard was asleep on a couch in Las Vegas ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights-Carolina Hurricanes matchup.
As the segment closed, MacLean said: “The roofies, they’ll get you every time,” a reference to a similar line Zac Galifianakis says in the movie.
The comment proved controversial on social media, as many fans found it to be insensitive.
MacLean apologized later during the broadcast, calling the remark a “mistake.”
Ron Maclean apologizes for this comment #NHLplayoffs #StanleyCup https://t.co/QvldmCKbHk pic.twitter.com/1NqXYu6ZgG
— bnpeki 🇨🇦 Matthew Knies Enjoyer (@bnpeki) June 15, 2026
“I referenced a scene in the movie where the tiger is put to sleep. The Keepers of the Cup are, of course, asleep in the skit.” MacLean said. “I used the slang term for the drug, which has far more serious connotations in reality, and I should have made that connection.
“As James Baldwin would say, it’s the innocence that constitutes the crime. 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.”
A clip of his apology was viewed over 750,000 times on X as of Monday afternoon.
Contact Trevor Squire at tsquire@reviewjournal.com Follow him at @trevordsquire on X.
