Hockey Canada Announces CEO, Entire Board to Resign | CBC News

Hockey Canada has announced that its entire board of directors and CEO will step down as the organization faces widespread criticism for how it handled an alleged group sexual assault involving members of the 2018 men’s junior national team.

In a media release, the sports organization confirmed the departure of Chief Executive Officer Scott Smith with immediate effect.

The statement said an interim management committee will be established pending a newly constituted board of directors appointing a new CEO to lead the organization.

A virtual election is scheduled for December 17th. Hockey Canada’s statement said the current board is not seeking re-election.

The interim management committee will focus on day-to-day operations, including reviewing and working with members and implementing a pending report on Hockey Canada’s governance, the organization’s statement said.

The news was welcomed by German Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge, who had called for a restructuring at the top.

“Your resignation and that of the CEO is a step to restore Canadians’ confidence in the organization. While we welcome this news, the interim management committee must be made up of people who want to make real change,” she said in a media statement.

“Hockey Canada must not only develop exceptional athletes, but good citizens who respect women, the public and the law. The Hockey Canada case demonstrates that the leadership and leadership of national sports organizations determine how cases of sexual violence, abuse and other forms of mistreatment are managed.”

Guarantee of the sponsors

Andrea Skinner resigned as director and interim chief executive officer of Hockey Canada over the weekend — days after her controversial appearance before a parliamentary committee defending the organization.

Speaking to MPs, she described Hockey Canada as the victim and said her board does not believe top leadership should be replaced “on the basis of what we believe to be significant misinformation and overly cynical attacks.”

Major sponsors — including Nike, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Esso and Telus — responded by permanently cutting ties with Hockey Canada or withdrawing funding for men’s hockey this season.

St-Onge said she was frustrated with Hockey Canada’s leadership after Skinner’s appearance on the committee.

“I hope they get the message and leave before they burn it down,” she said Thursday. “In order to renew this organization, it must be rebuilt.”

Conservative MP John Nater, a member of the committee investigating Hockey Canada’s allegations, said it shouldn’t have taken this long for the executive to leave.

“But I am confident that we will finally see meaningful changes in Hockey Canada’s leadership, organization and culture,” he tweeted.

“Its a lot to do.”

Resignations “seemed inevitable”: Hockey Quebec

As the nation’s national self-governing agency for amateur hockey, Hockey Canada is responsible for the administration and expansion of hockey programs nationwide at all levels of play – from grassroots through World Championships and Olympics.

Before it became the focus of the scandal, Hockey Canada received funds from the federal government — which has since frozen those funds. It also raised money through provincial membership dues and grants, as well as grassroots fundraising and sponsorships — a pool that has also dried up.

Hockey Canada has 13 member branches; Each branch represents a province or region in Canada, although there are exceptions. Ontario is represented by three separate branches, BC Hockey oversees minor British Columbia and Yukon hockey, while Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are represented by Hockey North.

Hockey Quebec, which announced last week that it would not transfer funds to the national organization, said Tuesday’s result “felt inevitable to us.”

“Now it is important to ensure that future directors take concrete steps to effect profound changes in respect, integrity and culture,” the provincial authority said in a statement.

The Ontario Hockey Federation called the mass withdrawals “a good first step in addressing the challenges ahead.”

“This is an incredibly important moment in the history of our game and it cannot be underestimated the need to rebuild trust in Canadians on and off the ice,” said Lauren Maharaj, a spokeswoman for the Ontario federation.