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The National Hockey League may be hot stuff for the fans, but the heat got out of hand Thursday night.

A CBC broadcast truck almost caught fire during the network's telecast of the NHL Awards show from the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.

Technical problems resulted, the worst of which affected Versus in the United States. The overheated CBC truck caused transmission difficulties forcing the U.S. cable channel to cancel its live telecast. Instead, it aired a World Combat League show and carried a tape delay of the NHL show at 11 p.m. EDT.

The CBC had its own problems. Its red carpet interviews were interrupted by a sudden glitch that imposed a newscast from another region onto the telecast.

Later, when host Ron MacLean was introducing Maurice Richard Award winner Vincent Lecavalier, the sound disappeared.

These problems were unfortunate, because it was a big night for the NHL what with Sidney Crosby grabbing the three big awards, the Pearson, Hart and Art Ross, which he had already won for the leading the NHL in points.

If you could ignore the technical problems, the telecast was good but not great. MacLean got off a few good lines, but the first half hour of interviews with players and celebrities went on too long, particularly when questions like this were asked: "Is it big in California, hockey?"

That was Cassie Campbell's question to actor Tom Cavanagh, who said something about the Anaheim Ducks making a buzz during the Stanley Cup final.

One little item of information was revealed.

"What are you wearing," Campbell asked Crosby.

Without skipping a beat, he said, "Giovanni."

Farewell tour

At 74 and 70, respectively, Bob Cole and Harry Neale of Hockey Night in Canada are at an age when most people have retired or are thinking seriously about it.

The CBC wants to move younger broadcasters into the show, but, before anything is done, a succession plan is required. And it needs to be handled with care. The last thing the network needs is a repeat of the Don Wittman controversy.

Before the start of the 1996 Canadian Football League season, Wittman, then 59, heard rumours the CBC was pulling him from the Grey Cup telecast. He had been the network's lead CFL voice for years and had worked on more than 30 Grey Cup games.

When he asked management about his status, the rumours were confirmed. Wittman was out and Chris Cuthbert in. Needless to say, Wittman was upset and said so publicly.

For Cole and Neale, the betting is they will return to Hockey Night for one more season — with the understanding it will be their last.

Jim Hughson, who calls Hockey Night's games in the West, will be the first choice to replace Cole. Greg Millen, who works with Hughson, would likely move into Neale's spot.

But questions will include: Is it reasonable for Hughson, who lives in Vancouver, to fly to Toronto every weekend to call Hockey Night's Toronto Maple Leafs game? Given that he's the play-by-play voice of Vancouver Canucks' regional games on Rogers Sportsnet, could he do both? Would he be willing to relocate to Toronto and give up the Canucks?

If the answers to those questions are no, Hockey Night may choose to keep him in the West where he would continue to call the second game of the Saturday night doubleheader.

Ken Daniels, who is from Toronto and worked for Hockey Night before moving to Detroit to call Red Wings games for the regional Fox TV outlet, was once seen as Cole's successor. But could he juggle Wings telecasts and the Hockey Night job?