‘NHL × ASL’ Nabs two sports Emmy Nominations

Mark J. Burns reported for Sports Video Group this past week the National Hockey League’s NHL Productions has been nominated for two Sports Emmys—double last year—in the Outstanding Live Sports Special: Non-Championship Event and Outstanding Interactive Experience: Sports categories for its NHL × ASL series, of which the league has produced 19 since debuting with the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.

“The big-time productions, currently in their third year at the league level, are dedicated to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community and are part of an effort to make NHL games more accessible and give more hockey fans an opportunity to experience the sport,” Burns wrote.

“To be honored with two Emmy nominations in one year is incredibly meaningful,” said Matt Celli, group vice president and coordinating director at NHL Productions. “The team is very humbled to be nominated for two Emmys, especially when you look at the other finalists. We are proud of the recognition and prouder of our ability to service this community. We know that we are producing a truly special and unique show for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing hockey fans. The impact is real, and that makes this rewarding.”

Not only have I been watching this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs on ABC/ESPN/TNT, I’ve covered the “NHL × ASL” extensively over the last few years; it meshes my love of sports with my personal background as a CODA whose native language is American Sign Language. The league works alongside Deaf inclusion company PXP in creating the ASL simulcast, and I interviewed its co-founder and CEO, Brice Christianson, in November 2024 all about it. Like me, he’s a CODA, and effusively praised the NHL for its commitment to making hockey inclusive to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

This year’s Sports Emmys awards are scheduled for May 26 in New York City.