Hockey Canada Chairman Resigns After Immense Pressure Over Mishandling Of Sexual Scandal Allegations

Summary 

• Chairman Michael Brind’Amour steps down after pressure 
• His term as chairman was set to expire in Nov 2022
• Canadian media continue to pressure other leaders to resign 

Hockey Canada initially tried to move past the mishandling of the sexual allegations made against its players by offering the alleged victim an undisclosed sum of money.

However, once the media exposed what was happening behind closed doors, Hockey Canada and its leadership team have been under immense pressure for fostering a culture of sexual misconduct and cover-up.

Michael Brind’Amour Resigns as Chairman 

The media in Canada started calling for significant changes instead of false promises and wanted the leadership team of Hockey Canada to resign. They have had success as Hockey Canada chairman Michael Brind’Amour has submitted his resignation and stepped down. His term as chairman was set to end in Nov 2022.

Michael Brind’Amour was elected as chairman back in 2018. He released a statement and said that he heard the cry and protests of Canadians who were deeply disturbed about the culture that Hockey Canada had encouraged and the failings of the leadership team. Michael said that instead of waiting for his term to expire in November, it was best for him to step aside immediately and have a new leader spearhead the Action Plan that Hockey Canada recently released.

Michael said he believed that the Action Plan outlined will bring Canada hockey legal radical changes and solutions to the serious failings of the organization but said he wasn’t the right man to see these changes through.

Will More Leaders Resign In The Coming Weeks?

The resignation of Michael Brind’Amour is a victory for victims of Hockey Canada and also for the media in Canada who have been covering the scandal week after week. However, Michael isn’t losing much given the fact that his term was set to end in the next 3 months. 

The attention will now turn to other senior leaders at Hockey Canada as Canadians don’t believe that Hockey Canada can turn a new leaf with the old leadership team in place. The pressure continues to mount on key individuals at Hockey Canada which includes chief executive officer Tom Renney, chief financial officer Brian Cairo and chief operating officer Scott Smith.

Pascale St-Onge, the Sports Minister in Canada said that she will continue to withhold funds to Hockey Canada until she is satisfied that the organization has fulfilled the key requirements that she has outlined which includes a financial audit.