Hockey Canada 'absurd' in its continued resistance to leadership change, observers say

Katie Strang says she was "baffled" by Hockey Canada's tone amid its handling of sexual assault allegations and resistance against changes in leadership.

"There really seems to be a lack of reflection about why people are so upset about not just the 2018 allegations themselves, but the way in which Hockey Canada has responded," Strang, senior investigative reporter for The Athletic, told The Current's Matt Galloway.

Hockey Canada has faced calls for leadership changes since May, when the organization reached a settlement with a woman alleging she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of Canada's 2018 world junior team.

Those calls have reached a crescendo recently when it was revealed that Hockey Canada put player registration fees toward a second fund "for matters including but not limited to sexual abuse," according to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail.

Hockey Quebec severed ties with the organization, and the Ontario Hockey Federation re-sent a formal request to Hockey Canada to not collect player fees from its members for the current season.

Several sponsors have also pulled out of funding for the 2022-23 season, including Tim Hortons, Telus, Scotiabank and Canadian Tire.

Strang said this is a "really significant development."

"From a symbolic point of view, I think it really shows that Canadian communities and Canadian corporations have a much different feeling about Hockey Canada and how it has handled this entire scandal than Hockey Canada itself views the issue," she said.

Earlier this week, Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge said mass resignations at Hockey Canada are needed to restore public trust in the organization.

But speaking to the House of Commons Canadian Heritage committee on