Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that hockey Canada’s handling of allegations such as gang rape ‘boggles the mind’. Meanwhile, the federal sports minister said it was time for the organisation to do its internal cleaning.
The pressure is being exerted on the national governing body of ice hockey to change the leadership. On Tuesday, one of Hockey Canada’s executives appeared before the Parliamentary Committee. Interim Board Chair Andrea Skinner defended Hockey Canada during the presentation.
He said that Hockey Canada has a very good reputation and due to the toxic culture, hockey is being made a scapegoat.
Skinner said that Hockey Canada is not making any changes at the administrative level. He also said that the demands made by the Sports Minister for the resignations of Hockey Canada’s governing body on a large scale cannot be fulfilled. This will lower the morale of our boys and girls who play hockey.
The Prime Minister was taken aback by such a reaction. Before leaving for a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, Trudeau said parents across the country are losing faith in Hockey Canada and Ottawa politicians have already lost faith in Hockey Canada.
Meanwhile, in an interview, Sports Minister St. O’s said that it is very sad that a woman is being presented as the face of the Boys Club and both Hockey Canada and Skinner do not understand the gravity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Tim Hortons has conveyed to Hockey Canada his intentions to end sponsorship from the upcoming World Junior Championships, including the 2022-23 men’s season.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Tim Hortons confirmed that the company will continue to fund Canada’s women’s and Paralympic and youth hockey teams.
“We have told Hockey Canada on many occasions that the organization must take concrete steps to win back the trust of Canadians,” said Tim Hortons Director of Communications Michael Oliveira.