Canadian election debate advanced by 2 hours to avoid conflict with hockey game WSOC TV [Video]

MONTREAL — (AP) — Politics bowed to Canada’s most popular sport on Tuesday, when the French-language leaders’ debate was abruptly rescheduled to minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game.

Two federal party leaders had called for the Wednesday evening debate to be moved, out of concern that the game could siphon off potential viewers. Five party leaders will debate each other twice this week, once in French and once in English, ahead of a national election set for April 28.

The televised event will now take place two hours earlier than planned, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET in Montreal. The NHL team will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET, in a game that could clinch them a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In a statement, Radio-Canada and the Leaders’ Debates Commission said they were “recognizing Canadians’ passion for hockey.”

“Citizens will …