Bauer Hockey has become just the latest company to pause support for scandal-plagued Hockey Canada, an┬аorganization that continues to draw widespread criticism for its handling of an alleged group sexual assault involving members of the 2018 men’s national junior team.
On Tuesday, Bauer Hockey announced it was pausing a multi-million-dollar commitment as the official equipment provider to the Hockey Canada men’s teams.
In a statement, Bauer said Hockey Canada can still buy products for the men’s programs and it will redistribute the profits to “increase accessibility and equity in girl’s, women’s, para hockey and other underrepresented communities.”
The┬аmanufacturer said it will continue to supply equipment to the women’s programs.
“Our goal is to drive meaningful change, not impact athletes,” said the statement from chief executive officer Ed Kinnaly┬аand vice-president Mary-Kay Messier.
“Crisis can create opportunity for meaningful change. Our hope is that collectively we start on a path forward soon and that we can use this to bring a renewed focus back to what’s most important for the game of hockey тАФ creating opportunities for kids and families through the game of hockey.”
Bauer’s decision is just the latest domino to fall in reaction to news that the hockey organization has paid out nearly┬а$9 million in settlements since 1989┬аto 21 people alleging sexual abuse. The bulk of the money went to compensation for complainants in the case of┬аGraham James, a former junior ice hockey coach┬аwho was accused of sexually abusing players on his teams.
It later came out that┬аa fund made up in part with players’ registration fees was used to pay for that settlement.
Interim board chair resigns┬а
Over the weekend, Andrea Skinner resigned as a director and┬аinterim board chair of Hockey Canada,┬аdays after a controversial parliamentary committee meeting where she defended┬аthe organization.
In front of MPs, she described Hockey Canada as the victim and said her board doesn’t believe senior leadership “should be replaced on the basis┬аof what we consider to be substantial misinformation and unduly cynical attacks.”
Major sponsors тАФ including Nike, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Esso and Telus тАФ responded by cutting ties with Hockey Canada permanently┬аor by withdrawing funding for men’s hockey this season.┬а
