The fallout continues for Hockey Canada in the wake of sexual assault allegations involving members of its World Junior team.
The national governing body has been under intense scrutiny and criticism since the allegations were made public in a lawsuit, which the organization settled for an undisclosed amount. In the complaint, filed in April in Ontario Superior Court, a woman alleged that she was assaulted by eight players, including members of Canada’s World Junior team, in a London, Ont., hotel room following a Hockey Canada Foundation event in June 2018.
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The lawsuit was settled before a full investigation into the allegations was completed. As a result, several of Hockey Canada’s sponsors and provincial federations have decided to distance themselves from the organization as calls for changes in leadership continue.
Here is a quick look at those sponsors and provincial federations:
Oct. 11: Bauer Hockey, the official equipment provider for Hockey Canada, pulls financial support
Bauer will also stop providing free equipment such as helmets and gloves. The company, which had already paused sponsorship in the summer, said it has “lost confidence in Hockey Canada’s leadership.”
Bauer will continue to supply equipment to Hockey Canada’s women’s programs.
Oct. 7: Hockey New Brunswick says it’s not paying participant assessment fees to Hockey Canada
Hockey New Brunswick says it is undergoing a governance review of Hockey Canada. In the meantime, Hockey New Brunswick “will not be paying its $3 per player participant assessment fee to Hockey Canada.”
Oct. 7:Hockey Alberta announces it may withhold participant fees
Hockey Alberta says it may withhold participant fees if Hockey Canada does not “take certain actions and provide answers by specific deadlines,” per a statement issued to Hockey Alberta members. The statement does not indicate what those specific requests are.
Oct. 7:Nike suspends its relationship with Hockey Canada
Nike suspends its relationship with Hockey Canada.
“We’ll continue to monitor the situation and await more information regarding Hockey Canada’s actions to address the findings in these investigations and create a safe environment for all athletes.”
GO DEEPERHockey Canada timeline: Major developments so farOct. 6:Hockey Manitoba calls for changes to Hockey Canada’s leadership
Hockey Manitoba joins the public outcry by calling for a change to Hockey Canada’s leadership.
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“Hockey Manitoba Board of Directors support the call by Members of Parliament for a change in Hockey Canada’s leadership at the Sr. Staff level and Board of Directors. Further, Hockey Manitoba calls for a review of the Hockey Canada Action Plan to include consultation from experts or organizations working in education, awareness and prevention of sexual violence, abuse, bullying, and discrimination,” Hockey Manitobasaid in a statement.
Oct. 6:Hockey Nova Scotia suspends participant assessment fees to Hockey Canada
Hockey Nova Scotia says it is suspending the transfer of participant assessment fees for the 2022-23 season, after the board met on Oct. 6 for an emergency meeting.
“Hockey Nova Scotia has lost confidence in Hockey Canada’s senior leadership,” Hockey Nova Scotiasaid in a statement.“Until our values at Hockey Nova Scotia are reflected by Hockey Canada’s senior leadership, we simply cannot support hockey’s national governing body.”
Oct. 6: Broadcast partners TSN, RDS call for ‘meaningful change’
TSN and RDS, broadcast partners for several Hockey Canada events, call on the national governing body to “enact meaningful change to deliver a hockey environment built on a culture of respect,” TSN and RDSsaid in a statement. The broadcasters confirm they will still carry the 2022-23 World Junior Championship.
“We will continue to spotlight this issue for Canadians and will confirm our broadcast plans for the 2022-23 IIHF World Junior championship in the coming months.”
Oct. 6: Recipe, Canada’s largest full-service restaurant company, cancels partnership support
The corporation, which includes iconic Canadian brands Swiss Chalet and The Keg, will “end all related partnership support with Hockey Canada.” These companies will continue to support the women’s program.
NEWS: More sponsors withdrawing support from Hockey Canada. Swiss Chalet and The Keg are also suspending partnership support effective immediately.
Full statement here: pic.twitter.com/p2701rCbiZ
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) June 30, 2022
Oct. 6: BDO continues to pause its partnership with Hockey Canada
BDO announced that it’s continuing to pause its partnership with Hockey Canada.
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“We are deeply concerned by Hockey Canada’s lack of transparency and accountability,” BDO said in a statement.
Oct. 6: Imperial Oil, Skip the Dishes and Sobeys pull sponsorship support
Skip the Dishes and Sobeys pull their sponsorship support of Hockey Canada. Imperial Oil’s Esso brand also withdraws its support for Hockey Canada’s men’s program.
“We will not be supporting Hockey Canada for men’s programs with the Esso brand in the 2022-2023 season, including the upcoming World Junior Championship tournament, until we see meaningful accountability, transparency and change,” Esso said in a statement. “We are disappointed that we have not yet seen more significant action.”
Oct. 6: Canadian Tire cancels partnership with Hockey Canada
Canadian Tire says it’s ending its partnership with Hockey Canada. The corporation plans to redirect support to other hockey-related organizations and The Respect Group, which focuses on preventing bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.
“After careful consideration, Canadian Tire Corporation has made the decision to end its partnership with Hockey Canada,” the company announced.“In our view, Hockey Canada continues to resist meaningful change and we can no longer confidently move forward together.”
Oct. 6: Telus pulls sponsorship of men’s hockey programs in 2022-23
Telus announces it will not sponsor men’s hockey programs for Hockey Canada for the upcoming 2022-23 season, including the upcoming world juniors.
This is after Telus announced in June that it was withholding sponsorship support from Hockey Canada in the wake of the fallout from a sexual assault lawsuit.
In a statement, Telus cites Hockey Canada’s “lack of action and commitment to drive necessary cultural change.”
Oct. 5:Scotiabank pauses support of Hockey Canada men’s hockey programs in 2022-23
Scotiabank says it’s pausing support for men’s hockey throughout the 2022-23 season, including the upcoming world juniors.
NEW: Scotiabank will pause support for men’s Hockey throughout the 2022-23 season, including upcoming World Juniors.
Says in statement:
“The time for change is long overdue” pic.twitter.com/gXOXloz3kb
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) October 6, 2022
This is after Scotiabank announced in June that it was withholding sponsorship support from Hockey Canada.
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“Ultimately our position hasn’t wavered; the time for change is long overdue,” Scotiabank said in a statement.
Oct. 5: Tim Hortons pulls sponsorship of Hockey Canada’s men’s programs in 2022-23
Tim Hortons informs Hockey Canada that it won’t be sponsoring the men’s program during the 2022-23 season, including the world juniors. Tim Hortons will continue to support women’s, para and youth hockey.
“We’ve communicated to Hockey Canada on many occasions that the organization needs to take strong and definitive action before it can regain the faith and trust in Canadians,” Tim Hortons said in a statement. “We’re deeply disappointed in the lack of progress that Hockey Canada has made to date.”
Oct. 4: Hockey Quebec suspends player registration fees to Hockey Canada
Hockey Québec votes to cut ties with the governing body, saying it no longer has “confidence in the ability of Hockey Canada to act effectively to change the culture of hockey with the structure in place,” according to multiple reports. As a result, Hockey Québec is reportedly suspending the transfer of $3 per player registration that goes to Hockey Canada, and for the time being, only the amounts used for insurance costs will be paid.
(Photo: Andy Devlin / Getty Images)
