Hockey Canada's new board enters to pick up the pieces after scandal-filled year

Hugh L. Fraser didn't have the nuts-and-bolts knowledge to coach his sons' hockey teams.

He did, however, want to pitch in at the frigid rinks across eastern Ontario.

"By the time my older boy finished novice hockey, he knew more about the fundamentals than I did," Fraser said. "But they needed somebody running the clocks.

"So, I started running the clocks."

Years later, he watched from afar as Hockey Canada — the game's steward in this country — experienced a scandal-filled spring, summer and fall of ugly headlines related to the national sport organization's handling of sexual assault allegations and payouts to victims.

The retired judge felt it was his duty to step up and help heal a sport that had given his family so much joy.

Fraser was elected as Hockey Canada's new board chair over the weekend, joined by eight freshly minted directors, as the federation looks to push ahead with the governance changes outlined in a damning independent report released last month.

"Very dispiriting, very discouraging," Fraser said of his reaction to Hockey Canada's disastrous 2022 in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

"I had the same question everyone asked: 'How could this happen?'"

Born in Jamaica before his family moved to Kingston, Ont., when he was a child, the 70-year-old takes the board reins at a critical juncture for Hockey Canada.

Everything, however, appeared fine on the surface in April when Tom Renney announced his retirement as its CEO.

WATCH | Latest details on alleged 2018 sexual assault:

During that emotional address, he trumpeted what had been accomplished under his leadership.

"We have taken our responsibilities seriously and bettered ourselves in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion, gender