Hockey Canada dropped by MAJOR sponsors
Members of the Hockey Canada Board of Governors were once again placed before a Parliamentary Commitee yesterday for further questioning regarding the scandal that has rocked Canadian hockey to its core. Investigations are still ongoing regarding several incidents of sexual assault by players being covered up by Hockey Canada dating all the way back to 2003.
Hockey Canada's Board members continued with the same defiant and dismissive attitude that was present at the first hearing. They refused to take responsibility for their actions, which included using registration money from youth hockey programs to settle assault cases out of court and force victims to sign non disclosure agreements. On Monday, the Globe and Mail revealed that there was a second fund on Hockey Canada's books, again fed by registration fees and again used to settle assault cases.
Hockey Canada's refusal to take responsibility and news of this second fund proved to be the final straw for several major sponsors. Tim Horton's, Telus, and Scotiabank have all pulled their sponsorship of Hockey Canada's Men's programs. They will continue to support Women's, youth and para hockey programs however. Canadian Tire has severed ties completely and permanently with the entire organization. According to the press release, Canadian Tire will redirect those funds towards organizations committed to fighting bullying and abuse in hockey.
If the massive public outcry and the rage of hockey parents wasn't enough to convince the current Hockey Canada board they they need to resign, maybe losing millions in sponsorship will finally get the message across. Get out, go away, we don't want you here. There are plenty of qualified people who can and will do better.
