Sheldon Kennedy repeats call for resignations after Hockey Canada’s board supports Smith

By Sportsnet, Canadian Press

Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.

Sheldon Kennedy says Hockey Canada isn’t listening.

The fierce advocate for sexual abuse survivors and retired NHL player repeated his calls for Hockey Canada’s leadership to resign on Tuesday.

“For the betterment of the game and kids, the leadership group at Hockey Canada must resign as they have lost the trust of Canadians in their ability to lead. That is crystal clear,” Kennedy told The Canadian Press.

His comments came after Hockey Canada’s board of directors said it’s supporting president and chief executive officer Scott Smith and his executive team amid calls for leadership change at the organization.

Interim board chair Andrea Skinner announced the backing of the organization’s executive in a statement posted Monday on its website.

The statement drew the ire of Kennedy and others.

“If we care about the game like we say we care about the game, I think that’s the best thing to do right now,” said Kennedy, who was one of the victims of serial abuser Graham James. “Canadians are asking for the leadership group to step down. I don’t know how they’re not hearing that.”

The statement did not detail a reason for the show of support, but said the board is undertaking “ongoing efforts to restore the trust of Canadians in hockey and Hockey Canada,” which includes a governance review.

Related links:

Canada’s governing body of hockey is under intense scrutiny for its handling of sexual assault allegations against members of previous men’s junior teams.

The federal government froze Hockey Canada’s funding after it was revealed the organization had quietly settled a lawsuit with a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by members of the 2018 men’s junior team at a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont., that year.

Several of Hockey Canada’s corporate partners suspended their support of Hockey Canada after executives were grilled by MPs during a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage meeting about the organization’s response to the alleged assault. The results were evident at the world junior championship earlier this month in Edmonton, where the ice and boards at Rogers Place were almost completely free of advertising.

Hockey Canada later said members of the 2003 junior team are under investigation for an alleged sexual assault in Nova Scotia.

Kennedy’s calls for Hockey Canada’s leadership to resign have been echoed in cross-partisan support from MPs on the heritage committee, which has twice heard testimony from Smith and other executives on their handling of the allegations. Three-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Marnie McBean told TSN recently that an offer to sit on a Hockey Canada oversight committee was withdrawn after she lobbied for a leadership change.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today