Comedian Matt Friend To Host 2024 NHL Awards In Las Vegas

EXCLUSIVE: Comedian and impressionist extraordinaire Matt Friend has been tapped to host the 2024 NHL Awards, the National Hockey League announced today.

The celebration of the league’s best regular-season performances will be broadcast live from Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Thursday, June 27, on ESPN and Sportsnet in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET.

The event marks the 11th time the NHL Awards will be presented in Las Vegas and the first since 2019.

“Growing up, all my heroes were hockey-obsessed comedians,” Friend said in a statement to Deadline. “I am so thrilled to join the list of my heroes like Will Arnett and Kenan Thompson as host of the NHL Awards, especially as someone who grew up a Chicago Blackhawks fan during the dynasty. I am so grateful to Steve Mayer, Michael Dempsey and Gary Bettman for the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream of hosting the Golden Globes … of hockey! Hopefully I’ll win them over when I debut my Gary Bettman impression.”

Stated NHL Chief Content Officer and Senior EVP Steve Mayer: “We can’t wait to be back in Las Vegas to celebrate the best players in the NHL and cap off a monumental season for the league. Vegas has a unique energy, and we’re thrilled to have Matt Friend join us as host this year. Matt is a versatile comedic talent unlike any other and we know the show will be in great hands.”

Friend has risen to fame on social media in recent years as a master impressionist with spot-on takes of everyone from Jeff Goldblum to Rami Malek and Timothée Chalamet. Boasting over a million followers across all socials, the 25-year-old’s repertoire includes more than 250 impressions in total. He has appeared on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, conducted viral interviews on the Golden Globes red carpet, performed at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and headlined Netflix Is a Joke Fest as part of his nationwide stand-up tour. Later this summer, he’ll launch his own late-night talk show-inspired podcast on Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios.

The 2024 NHL Awards will honor the best regular-season players in a wide range of categories, including most valuable player, outstanding goaltender, outstanding defenseman and outstanding rookie. The Ted Lindsay Award, which is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players Association, also will be awarded.

The Stanley Cup could be awarded tonight if the Florida Panthers are able to beat the Edmonton Oilers at home in Game 5 of their series. The Panthers lead the Stanley Cup Final three games to one.