Hockey Canada announced on Tuesday that it is making major changes to the leadership of its organization, including the removal of chief executive officer Scott Smith and its board of directors “effective immediately”.
In its press release, Hockey Canada said that there will be an interim management committee put in place for the time being until a newly constructed board is formed and they can appoint a new CEO.
A new slate of directors will be selected at the upcoming election on Dec. 17. The past board members have agreed not to seek re-election.
The decision stems from controversy that the organization has faced in its handling of sexual assault allegations, specifically the 2018 sexual assault investigation that allegedly involves members of Canada’s national junior team and players from the CHL.
“Their resignation, and the CEO’s, is a step toward restoring Canadians' confidence in the organization,” Canada’s Sports Minister Pascale St.-Onge said. “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 develop not only exceptional athletes, but also good citizens who respect women, the public and the law. The case of Hockey Canada shows that the governance and leadership of national sport organizations determine the way cases of sexual violence, abuse and other forms of maltreatment are managed.
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Which board members resigned from Hockey Canada?
On Tuesday, the organization announced that Smith and the board of directors will all be stepping down.
Smith had been with Hockey Canada since 1995. He held the role of vice president and chief operating officer (COO) from 2007 to 2016, president and COO from 2017 to 2022 and most recently, president and CEO.
Who were the board members of hockey Canada?
There were seven members that made up the board of directors who have all resigned from their position. The seven are Terry Engen, Kirk Lamb, Barry Reynard, Bobby Sahni, Mary Anne Veroba and Goops Wooldridge.
Why did Hockey Canada implement changes?
Changes have been long overdue within Hockey Canada’s organization. The group has received tons of backlash recently over its handling of multiple sexual assault allegations within its organization, in addition to questions about its finances and supposed slush funds in the company.
Many have spoken out against Hockey Canada and have been calling for something to be done, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently said that Hockey Canada has “lost the confidence” of Canadians.
Canada’s ice hockey governing body has lost a number of sponsors during this time. Some companies have suspended partnerships with Hockey Canada, while some cut ties ultimately. Included on the list of those who have suspended funding are Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Nike and Bauer.