The Hockey Night in Canada theme song will be performed by the Toronto native and played on NHL broadcasts later this season. CTV now owns the rights to the song, and uses it exclusively on the TSN and RDS channels.
For Peart, being asked to record the song was truly an honour. He explained, “Having started out as a Canadian kid who skated on his ankles, and never made a hockey team, it is particularly sweet to be invited to be a part of this national institution — if not on skates, then on drums, performing Canada’s ‘second national anthem,’” Peart said in the same release. “At last I’ve made the big leagues!"
CBC originally owned the rights to the song, and it was paired with hockey broadcasts for more than 40 years. What’s often referred to as Canada’s second national anthem was nabbed by CTV in 2008. The network jumped at the chance to bring the song home, and even organised a national competition to breathe new life into the tune.
Versions of the song have also been recorded by the Canadian bands Barenaked Ladies and Simple Plan.