The chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, along with the entire board of directors, officially agreed to step downon Oct. 11, following a mass exodus of sponsor support.
According to a regarding the organization鈥檚 leadership changes, Hockey Canada will establish a "interim management committee鈥� to lead the organization until the next slate of directors appoints a new CEO.
With an election for a new board of directors now scheduled for Dec. 17, the organization is calling for candidates to 鈥渟hape the future鈥� of Hockey Canada.
This follows an emergency meeting held before the weekend by Hockey Canada鈥檚 board of directors as they were under mounting pressure from top corporate sponsors, political leaders and provincial organizations stemming from the group's apparent unwillingness to address its handling of alleged sexual assaults.
Two provincial organizations werecalling for resignations, with Hockey Manitoba stating that there needs to be 鈥渁 change in Hockey Canada鈥檚 leadership,鈥� and Hockey Nova Scotia saying it has 鈥渓ost confidence in Hockey Canada鈥檚 senior leadership.鈥�
Hockey Nova Scotia also confirmed it has cut off its funding to Hockey Canada for the 2022-23 season.
Since the news came out that registration fees for Hockey Canada helped to pay for a multimillion-dollar settlement to address sexual assault allegations, the organization has been taking heat.
Up until the Oct. 11 announcement, Hockey Canada had been firmly rejecting a change in leadership, despite calls for action.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had evensuggested that if the national hockey governing body continuedto resist calls to address its handling of sexual assault claims and funding, the organization could be replaced.
TSN, which will be hosting the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Atlantic Canada, wasalso calling for action.
The sports broadcaster, owned by CTV鈥檚 parent company Bell Media, is urged鈥淗ockey Canada to enact meaningful change to deliver a hockey environment built on a culture of respect.鈥�
Former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, who said he was subjected to years of sexual abuse by a coach while playing with the Swift Current Broncos, said it鈥檚 obvious Hockey Canada can鈥檛 continue this way.
鈥淭he picture is clear that the organization as a whole and its leadership has lost the trust and support of not just citizens in Canada, but all of its corporate sponsorship,鈥� Kennedy said.
While some sponsors initially halted their support when allegations surfaced this summer, including BDO and Esso Canada, here are the corporate sponsors who have confirmed pulling their support or maintaining their pause, as the controversy continues to unfold. Here鈥檚 what those sponsors have said about their decisions:
CANADIAN TIRE
"After careful consideration, Canadian Tire Corporation has made the decision to end its partnership with Hockey Canada. In our view, Hockey Canada continues to resist meaningful change and we can no longer confidently move forward together. CTC is proud of our commitment to sport and will continue to invest in our beloved national game by re-directing support to hockey-related organizations that better align with our values. The Respect Group, which is focused on preventing bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination, is one of many organizations where funds will be diverted. We are committed to supporting hockey and sport that is inclusive and safe for all Canadians," said Canadian Tire Corporation Senior Vice President of Communications Jane Shaw in a statement on Oct. 5.
TIM HORTONS
鈥淭oday鈥檚 news is the first step for Hockey Canada in doing what's required to restore the faith and trust of Canadians,鈥� Tim Hortons media relations said in an email to BNN Bloomberg on Oct. 11. 鈥淲e will not consider reinstating our support for Hockey Canada鈥檚 men鈥檚 programming until we鈥檙e confident that progress is being made and Canadians once again believe in the organization鈥檚 leadership and its ability to do what鈥檚 right for the game we all love.鈥�
Earlier this week, Tim Hortons made a statement urging Hockey Canada to take 鈥渟trong and definitive action.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e deeply disappointed in the lack of progress that Hockey Canada has made to date. We officially informed Hockey Canada this week that we have pulled out of all men鈥檚 hockey programming for the 2022-23 season including the men鈥檚 world junior championships. We continue to fund Canada鈥檚 women鈥檚 and para hockey teams, as well as youth hockey," said Tim Hortons media relations in a statement on Oct. 5.
CHEVROLET CANADA
鈥淐hevrolet Canada welcomes the leadership changes announced today by Hockey Canada," said GM Canada Executive Director of Communications Jennifer Wright in an email statement sent to BNN Bloomberg on Oct. 11. "We see this as a step in the right direction if Hockey Canada is to now address its culture and organization. We love hockey at Chevrolet Canada and we will continue to evaluate our support and sponsorship going forward to ensure this organization, under its new leadership, fits with our values.鈥�
On Oct. 6, Cherolet Canada confirmed that they have stepped back from its sponsorship activities with Hockey Canada as they sought "more clarity on what specific steps the organization has and will take following the alleged incidents of abuse."
"We at GM have no tolerance for abuse of any kind and wish to see Hockey Canada return to setting a positive example for all Canadians in all it does," Wright said in a statement
SCOTIABANK
鈥淥ur sponsorship pause of Hockey Canada remains in effect. Principally, this means a continued pause of our support for men鈥檚 hockey throughout the entire 2022/2023 season including the upcoming World Junior Championship. In our open letter in June, we publicly called on Hockey Canada to hold the game to a higher standard and we are disappointed with the lack of progress to date. From Hockey Canada, we expect a tangible commitment to transparency with Canadians, strong leadership, accountability with their stakeholders and the hockey community, and improved safety both on and off the ice. Ultimately our position hasn鈥檛 wavered: the time for change is long overdue," said Scotiabank media relations in a statement on Oct. 5.
TELUS
鈥淲e are deeply disheartened by the lack of action and commitment from Hockey Canada to drive necessary cultural change. TELUS will not be sponsoring Hockey Canada鈥檚 men's hockey programs for the 2022-23 season, including the upcoming World Juniors tournament. We remain passionate fans and supporters of the sport of hockey and stand committed to enabling systemic change to make hockey safe for all," said Telus media relations in a statement on Oct. 6.
SKIP THE DISHES
"Like many Canadians, we have been deeply troubled by recent allegations, and as such have since terminated our partnership with Hockey Canada," said a Skip The Dishes spokesperson in an email to 麻豆传媒 on Oct. 6.
SOBEYS
"Empire has been a proud sponsor of the Women鈥檚 National Hockey team for a number of years. When our contract with Hockey Canada expired at the end of June, we chose not to renew our sponsorship because we were disgusted by all of the allegations and, as importantly, Hockey Canada鈥檚 unwillingness to make meaningful change to earn back the trust of Canadians and ensure everyone feels welcome and safe when playing the sport. We fully intend to continue to support the Women鈥檚 National Hockey team and are currently exploring options that will allow us to do that directly, without any connection to Hockey Canada," said Sobeys media relations in an email to 麻豆传媒 on Oct. 6.
NIKE
"Nike believes sport should create a safe, supportive environment for all athletes. We鈥檙e deeply concerned by the ongoing reports around Hockey Canada. We believe significant and substantive action is required to support athletes and transform hockey for future generations. After further review of Hockey Canada鈥檚 response, we鈥檝e suspended our relationship with the federation and paused our support. We鈥檒l continue to monitor the situation and await more information regarding Hockey Canada鈥檚 actions to address the findings in these investigations and create a safe environment for all athletes," Nike Media Relations said in an email statement to 麻豆传媒 on Oct. 7.
BAUER
"The allegations against and continued and repeated breach of trust by Hockey Canada's leadership are extremely disturbing and warrant change," Bauer CEO Ed Kinnaly and vice-president of global marketing Mary-Kay Messier said in a statement Tuesday. "We have lost confidence in Hockey Canada's leadership. For too long, Hockey Canada has been singularly focused on competitive hockey. We believe wholesale change is required to ensure the mission is focused on growing the game and creating a fun, safe atmosphere that welcomes all who want the opportunity to play."
With files from 麻豆传媒' Kevin Gallagher
