CEO Scott Smith is leaving Hockey Canada, the entire board is stepping down in what MP – Sportsnet.ca calls a “great move”.

CEO Scott Smith, who has come under fire over Hockey Canada’s handling of allegations of sexual assault by two Canadian junior teams, has left the organization, it was announced Tuesday. All Hockey Canada board members have also agreed to step down “to make room for a new roster of directors.”

The announcement comes three days after Hockey Canada interim CEO Andrea Skinner tendered her resignation.

“I think this is an excellent indication that Hockey Canada has a better understanding that changes are needed and the only question would be who sits on the interim administration committee and what new board will be elected,” wrote Liberal MP member and heir Anthony Housefather -Committee sent an email to Sportsnet. “But that seems like a big step.”

With the CEO and board members now gone, day-to-day operations are being handled by an interim management committee, although it was uncertain who that committee was. Hockey Canada said in a press release that new board members will be elected “no later than in the upcoming virtual elections scheduled for December 17, 2022.” The board will not seek re-election and will perform its fiduciary duties until a new board is elected.” This new board will be responsible for the election of a new CEO.

Two names mentioned as potential CEO replacements by a source familiar with Hockey Canada operations were former Team Canada members Danièle Sauvageau and Thérèse Brisson, both of whom have been good candidates for the office in the past were named the first female GM in the NHL. Sauvageau, 60, a longtime trainer, was a member of the RCMP and the Montréal Police Department for 33 years. Brisson, 56, a former international who has won six world championships and an Olympic gold medal and is now President and CEO of Alpine Canada.

While appearing at two parliamentary hearings called to examine Hockey Canada’s response to allegations of sexual assault by the teams in 2003 and 2018, Smith defied calls by lawmakers from all four parties for his resignation.

“I’m ready to take that responsibility for making changes in our game,” Smith said during the July 27 hearings in Ottawa, responding to a call for resignation from committee member and Conservative Rep. John Nater. “I think I have the experience for that.”

However, after a third hearing in Ottawa was disputed between Skinner and members of Parliament from the Heritage Committee, which was responsible for some of the organization’s funding, calls for sweeping changes grew louder.

Since last week’s hearing, nearly all sponsors have permanently suspended further support from Hockey Canada, and eight provincial federations have suspended royalty payments and/or requested major organizational changes.

Smith, 55, has been with Hockey Canada since 1995, where he served as vice president and chief operating officer. He took over the position of President and CEO on July 1 from Tom Renney, who left the company on a previously decided retirement.

Previously, Smith, a native of Bathurst, NB, was executive director of the New Brunswick Amateur Hockey Association from 1991-1995. He holds a degree in Education from the University of New Brunswick.

Resignations as Board Members: Terry Engen of Eckville, Alta.; Kirk Lamm of Calgary; John Neville of Markham, Ontario; Barry Reynard of Kenora, Ontario; Bobby Sahni from Toronto; Mary Anne Veroba of Lampman, Sask.; and Milton Station’s Goops Wooldridge, PEI Former Montreal chief executive Michael Brind’Amour resigned in August.

– with files from Sportsnet’s Paul D. Grant