Chair of Hockey Canada's board of directors resigns

The latest development in the Hockey Canada saga saw Michael Brind'Amour step down Friday night as chair of its board of directors, effective immediately.

"My final term ends in November 2022, and I know that there is no need to wait for a new era. Immediate action is essential to address the important challenges facing our organization and our sport," Brind'Amour stated through a Hockey Canada news release.

Hockey Canada board of directors and members will meet in the coming days to determine next steps and to appoint an interim chair.

The next board election is scheduled for the annual meeting in November.

In June, the organization's access to public funds was frozen by the federal government over its response to an alleged sexual assault and subsequent out-of-court settlement.

A woman filed a $3.5-million lawsuit in April that said in 2018, eight hockey players including members of Canada's world junior team sexually assaulted her. Hockey Canada reached a settlement with a young woman the next month.

The complainant says she has always fully co-operated with a police investigation into her case, despite Hockey Canada originally saying she didn't. 

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Recently, retail giant Canadian Tire and telecommunications company Telus, among others, paused their Hockey Canada sponsorships.

And last month, Hockey Canada executives testified before a House of Commons committee Wednesday said they've paid $8.9 million for sexual abuse settlements to 21 complainants since 1989 from the "National Equity Fund," which they said is generated by membership fees and investments.

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