The head of Hockey Canada and its entire board of directors resigned Tuesday following revelations that the sport’s governing frame used shady funds to pay off sexual abuse sufferers.
Hockey Canada has been in turmoil considering gang rape accusations against the body had been discovered in June, elevating questions on the organisation’s settlement of a lawsuit filed by way of the alleged sufferers months in advance.
“Recognizing the urgent want for new management and views, the entire Board of Directors announced it’s going to step apart,” Hockey Canada stated in a declaration.
The suit turned into filed against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and eight gamers, some of whom represented Canada at the 2018 World Junior Hockey championships and went on to play inside the NHL.
The federation reached a financial settlement in the spring with the accuser, now 24.
Since the revelations in June, more alleged gang rapes have come to light, and Hockey Canada has revealed it paid out tens of millions of dollars in settlements to nearly dozen complainants with sexual misconduct claims over the last three decades.
The departing chief government of Hockey Canada, Scott Smith, has been under withering grievance from athletes, lawmakers and even sponsors.
It become currently found out in the media that Hockey Canada had slush price range to settle bills for sufferers of sexual attack.
Sponsors, which includes the Tim Hortons eating place chain, Nike and Scotiabank, have reduce ties with the sports federation in recent weeks.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suspended the agency’s public investment in June, establishing the door to an overhaul at the highest level of the federation.
“It’s time for them to head,” he stated instructed journalists closing week.
Tuesday’s assertion is a “a step towards restoring Canadians’ confidence” in Hockey Canada, Canadian Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge said in a assertion. “While we welcome this information, the interim control committee have to be made of people who want to make actual trade.”
The Quebec hockey federation iced over its subsidies to Hockey Canada closing week, saying this final results become “inevitable.”
“Now, it’s miles critical for us that destiny directors take concrete actions to… Exchange almost about appreciate, integrity and tradition,” Hockey Quebec stated.
