Hockey Canada’s board chair was on the defensive Tuesday as MPs castigated the governing body over its handling of sexual assault claims and the use of a shadowy fund to pay off victims of abuse.
Asked to grade the performance of Hockey Canada’s CEO Scott Smith — who has been widely condemned for his management of the organization — board chair Andrea Skinner said he deserves an A.
“I’m a hard marker,” Skinner said. “I think that the circumstances in which Mr. Smith has been working have been really extraordinary and difficult. He conducts himself as an A.”
Skinner’s comments triggered some laughter among the assembled MPs — who, despite their partisan differences, were universally critical of Hockey Canada at Tuesday’s meeting.
Andrea Skinner, interim chair of the Board of Directors at Hockey Canada, appears virtually as a witness at a House of Commons committee in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
NDP MP Peter Julian accused Hockey Canada of weaponizing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of abuse. He also attacked the governing body over lavish board dinners that reportedly have cost in excess of $5,000, and for handing out $3,000 rings to each of the group’s nine board members whenever a national team won a championship.
Julian also pressed Skinner to tell MPs how much Hockey Canada has spent to retain Navigator, a crisis management firm, to help it deal with an onslaught of bad press. He didn’t get an answer.
Conservative MP John Nater repeatedly pushed former Hockey Canada board chair Michael Brind’Amour to state whether he had confidence in Smith as CEO.
Conservative MP Rachael Thomas asked Skinner to explain how she could claim Hockey Canada has changed while doubling down on her support for its current management team.
Skinner said Hockey Canada will make no managerial changes, defying a demand made by federal Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge. The minister said Monday mass resignations at the governing body are needed to restore public trust in an organization that has made secret payments to sexual assault victims.
“Our board does not share the view that Hockey Canada should be making more leadership changes at this time,” Skinner said.
“The board believes Hockey Canada’s CEO and executive team have the skills to lead Hockey Canada through its action plan.”
Skinner said replacing the board and Hockey Canada’s management team would threaten the viability of the sport.
“I think that would be very impactful in a negative way to all of our boys and girls who are playing hockey,” she said. “Will the lights stay on at the rink? I don’t know. We can’t predict that. To me, it’s not a risk worth taking.”
‘A lightning rod for extremists’
While leery of personnel changes, Skinner said she expects to make a decision about her own future with Hockey Canada over the next month; board elections are expected sometime this fall. She said it’s been a trying time to lead the organization.
“I didn’t expect to be involved in politics. I didn’t expect to be a lightning rod for extremists,” she said.
Skinner, a lawyer by training, said the media was trying to turn the public against Hockey Canada and its leadership team by publishing stories critical of its handling of violent sexual assault in the sport.
She said the sport’s governing body is dealing with “substantial misinformation” and “cynical attacks” from politicians and others.
Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Scott Smith. Asked to rate Smith’s performance during the sexual assault scandal, board chair Andrea Skinner gave him an ‘A’. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Skinner said cases of sexual assault are not unique to hockey and it’s unfair to direct so much ire at the sport and Hockey Canada.
“Suggesting that toxic behaviour is somehow a specific hockey problem, or to scapegoat hockey as a centrepiece for toxic culture is, in my opinion, counterproductive to finding solutions,” she said.
“It risks overlooking the change that needs to be made more broadly to prevent and address toxic behaviour, particularly against women.”
‘A pack of hooligans’
Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner said MPs have not seen reports of violent sexual assault in other sports comparable to what has transpired in hockey. She asked why Hockey Canada allowed players to act like “a pack of hooligans” with no consequences.
“I absolutely reject we condoned this,” Skinner said in response to claims Hockey Canada turned a blind eye to assault.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather described Skinner’s efforts to blame the media and MPs for her organization’s woes as “Trump-like.”
Housefather said it’s reasonable to expect transparency from an organization that takes taxpayer funds and collects millions of dollars in registration fees each year from players and parents.
The embattled governing body has faced a torrent of criticism over its secretive use of player registration fees and other investments to compensate sexual assault complainants.
This summer, after a number of news outlets — including CBC News — broke stories about the existence of these funds, Hockey Canada revealed it had paid out $8.9 million in settlements to 21 complainants with sexual misconduct claims since 1989.
Anatomy of a Scandal
Hockey Canada is on the defensive over allegations that some members of its gold-medal winning World Junior team in 2018 took part in a group sexual assault, and the organization didn’t do enough to hold players accountable. The Fifth Estate examines the national shame inside Canada’s game, and the disturbing history that suggests this was not an isolated incident.
Some of that money was funnelled through the body’s National Equity Fund. Much of it went to settlements related to Graham James, the former junior hockey coach convicted of sexually assaulting young hockey players.
Skinner defended Hockey Canada’s decision to also quietly settle a lawsuit by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight former CHL players after a Hockey Canada Foundation event in London, Ont., in June 2018.
Skinner said that outside legal counsel advised Hockey Canada’s board in May 2022 to settle the matter out of court.
She said the complainant chose not to go public with the names of the players alleged to have committed sexual crimes.
Skinner said the board at the time wanted to take a “respectful” and “victim-centred” approach to the issue, so it cut a cheque to avoid the sometimes traumatic process of a legal trial.
MPs alleged the payout was hush money — an attempt to silence the woman and avoid bad press for the offending players.
Liberal MP Chris Bittle bristled at Skinner’s suggestion that sexual assault is also a problem in politics because former senator Don Meredith was recently charged by police with sex crimes.
Bittle pointed out that Meredith faced consequences for his actions — he was removed from the Conservative caucus, investigated by Red Chamber’s ethics commissioner and ultimately recommended for expulsion.
“There were consequences for this politician. For the hockey players and leaders involved, there seems to have been no consequences,” Bittle said of the 2018 alleged assault and the resulting fallout.
Speaking to reporters after the committee meeting, Bittle called Skinner’s testimony “shocking.”
“There needs to be a reckoning at Hockey Canada,” he said. “The only people in the country that seem to have confidence in senior management at Hockey Canada are the few members of the board of directors.”
‘There’s no sense of responsibility’
In an unusual move, Liberal MP Hedy Fry, the committee chair, lambasted Skinner and Brind’Amour at the end of the two-hour meeting.
According to parliamentary tradition, committee chairs are expected to remain impartial during committee proceedings — to preside over the meeting without participating in the debate.
Fry couldn’t hold back, saying she was “distressed” and “disturbed” by what’s gone on at Hockey Canada.
Speaking about the alleged assault in London and another reportedly violent incident in Halifax in 2003, Fry said Hockey Canada has tried to sweep incidents “under the rug” by offering payments to victims and imposing NDAs.
“I’m quite distressed that the current leadership will be kept in place because it’s a ‘grade A team.’ There’s no sense of responsibility. Blaming everyone else does not mean there’s a sense of accountability,” she said.
Skinner said Hockey Canada “hopes that the players will be held accountable for their culpable conduct.” She pointed out that there is now an investigation underway into the London incident that resulted in a multimillion-dollar payout to the victim.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
