Hey, I grew up with this song as well. Every Canadian and hockey fan south of the boarder grew up with this song. But we are all getting too emotional.
We need to take a step back.
If the problem is the money, for all of you who really want to keep it, when you contact the CBC tell them you will chip in to pay for the song to be played.
I agree CBC made a mistake that they should have purchased the song from the start. It did not happen and now we have a composer who has made herself and probably an entourage rich off of the song, not only from CBC's money but from other royalties or sales of the sheet music...ect. Did she make enough?
As for myself, I think both parties are wrong in this thing and open to a new theme. If hockey is beeing played after the song, in a few years I will embrace it.
Maybe the leauge needs to explore this as a possible revenue source, to have an NHL theme owned by the leauge where the broadcasters would have to use to create a contenuity and when you hear it you know it is the NHL. Just an idea.
When you hear this, you know it is time for NFL football.
YouTube - NFL ON FOX THEME SONG
When you hear this you know it is monday night.
YouTube - NFL- Monday Night Football Theme
I wonder who owns these themes? And wonder if the public be in an uproar if they were changed?