Confirmed: Hazel Mae Returns to Sportsnet

Rogers has finally confirmed the news that I reported 6 weeks ago, Hazel Mae is returning to Canada to work for Sportsnet. Mae will host the 6pm ET edition of Connected beginning on Monday November 14. Mae will also contribute to theFan590, Sportsnet Magazine and Sportsnet.ca. Mae began her broadcasting career in 2001 at Sportsnet as a Sportsnetnews anchor. Mae lived and worked in Boston from 2004 until 2008 with NESN. From 2009 until 2011 she was an anchor at MLB Network, living in the New York City area.

Here is a quote from Mae on returning to Canada:

I have truly come full circle by returning to the network that launched my broadcasting career. My career got off to a great start at Sportsnet and I’m excited to be coming back home. It’s an exciting time at Sportsnet with the recent re-brand and their accessible content on multiple platforms.

And a quote from Scott Woodgate, Vice-President of News and Information Programming, Sportsnet:

Hazel is a tremendous addition to our news team. She’s a talented storyteller and outstanding live broadcaster whose sports knowledge will drive our content on Connected.

I know there are many in Canada who don’t like Mae, but it is great for the Canadian television business when someone who has made it in the United States returns to Canada to work. From what I’ve seen of her on NESN and MLB Network, she has improved in the past seven years as well. This is a nice addition by Sportsnet, who also recently added Ken Reid to their Connected anchor team. I still feel that Connected lags behind TSN’s SportsCentre, but it is improving every year.