Telus says it will no longer be funding Hockey Canada’s men’s program for the upcoming season amid disappointment in the body’s handling of sexual assault allegations,┬аmaking it the second major sponsor to pull funding in as many days.
“We are deeply disheartened by the lack of action and commitment from Hockey Canada to drive necessary cultural change,” the company said in a statement released Thursday morning.
“Telus will not be sponsoring Hockey Canada’s men’s hockey programs for the 2022-23 season, including the upcoming world juniors tournament. We remain passionate fans and supporters of the sport of hockey and stand committed to enabling systemic change to make hockey safe for all.”
The telecommunications giant┬аis considered a┬а“premier” sponsor. The company has sponsored Hockey Canada since 2004, and in 2017 renewed that partnership until 2022.
Telus had previously withdrawn┬аsupport from the world junior hockey championship.
Hockey Canada says no to management changes
On Wednesday, Tim Hortons┬аannounced it would be pulling its sponsorship of┬аall of Hockey Canada’s men’s hockey programming for the 2022-23 season, including the men’s world junior championships.
The move is the latest reaction to how the hockey organization has responded to┬аaccusations it mishandled┬аallegations of gang rapes involving its players.┬а
Hockey Canada has confirmed it┬аpaid out $8.9 million in settlements to 21 complainants with sexual misconduct claims against its players since 1989.
CBC’s┬аThe Fifth Estate┬аidentified at least 15 cases┬аof alleged group sexual assault involving junior hockey players that have been investigated by police since 1989 тАФ half of which surfaced in the past decade, through a review of public records.
The organization has been adamant that it won’t be making any changes to its management
