The buzz came back quickly at the world juniors, the trust for Hockey Canada will take longer

HALIFAX As Hockey Canada’s new board of directors wrapped up in-person meetings for the first time, new chair Hugh Fraser promised the countries beleaguered national governing body would do better, and win back the trust of Canadians.

“It’s going to take time to restore that trust that has been lost,” Fraser told The Star on Thursday. “This is an organization that has been both chastened and humbled. But it has will and the determination for change.”

The new board — one that is more diverse and reflective of Canadian society as a whole — took over Dec. 17 after the previous board led by Andrea Skinner, and the organization’s chief executive, Scott Smith, resigned following a damning report on the culture of the organization.

That report also provided recommendations on how it should move forward. Some of those initiatives, like signing on with the federal government’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, providing better education for players, and developing a better screening process, are already in place or underway.

“There is change,” said Fraser, a retired judge. “Things are going to be done. No exception. We’re going to go hold people to the standard that we believe they should be held to.”

Hockey Canada has faced extreme scrutiny following revelations that it settled a lawsuit over an alleged sexual assault of a woman in 2018 in London, Ont., by members of the 2018 world junior team following a Hockey Canada gala. Beyond that incident and a similar one alleged to have happened in 2003, Hockey Canada has been criticized for how it handles issues of race, masculine toxicity, unfair treatment of female hockey players, and how it deals with grassroots minor hockey.

Big sponsors like Tim Hortons, Scotiabank and Canadian Tire pulled out and remained on the sidelines through this buzz-creating tournament featuring Canada’s record-setting Connor Bedard. Sponsors, like fans across the country, are awaiting real change.

“There is only one way to do things and that is to do things with the accountability and transparency, to do things the right way,” Fraser said. “The most significant thing for me, I would say, is to ensure that we have processes that apply to everyone equally across the board. It doesn’t matter who you are, whether you’re the 100-goal goal scorer, the last player to make the team (or) the coach with a great record. The rules should apply to everyone.”

Police in London, Ont., are said to be close to laying charges against some players with the information that emerged after TSN reported Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit involving the woman who said he she was raped in a hotel room after an event feting the 2018 gold-medal team.

Hockey Canada and the NHL also conducted more in-depth investigations over the past few months, but likely won’t release anything until after the police either close their investigation, or lay charges.

Hockey Canada’s report is in the hands of a private panel, Fraser said, and Hockey Canada will have no say in when it will be released.

International Ice Hockey Federation executive director Luc Tardif said his organization used the lessons from the Canadian scandal to enhance the way it counsels players on a variety of ethical issues, like gambling, drug use and consent in sexual situations.

“I’m confident about the new (Canadian) board, the new chairman, and we have to give them a chance,” Tardif said. “I’m a little bit optimistic, but it can be better. We don’t have to throw the baby out with the bath water. There are things that can be corrected.”

Former women’s national team captain Cassie Campbell-Pascall is one of eight new directors. Grant Borbridge, Julie Duranceau, David Evans, Marni Fullerton, Jonathan F. Goldbloom, Marian Jacko and Andrea Poole are the others.

Russian participation

Tardif sounded as if he wanted Russia back in international play, saying politics shouldn’t be part of the decision, but then he likened international hockey to the United Nations

“In the United Nation, everybody’s there around the table,” he said. “Russia, North Korea, I’m not sure. but the Chinese. And if they are together, why is that not possible for sport?”

He said the status of Russia, a pariah nation for its invasion of Ukraine, and Belarus, its chief ally, will be re-evaluated in the spring at the IIHF’s next congress, determined by a vote of member federations.

Olympic hopes

There are talks for both a proper World Cup and NHL participation in the Olympics. Tardif said the World Cup, still with an unspecified date, “will be in Europe.” But European federation want it in September while the NHL prefers it to mirror the Olympics calendar, February. Talks on that front are on hold, awaiting until the war in Ukraine is settled.

As for the Olympics, set for 2026 in Italy, the IIHF said it wants confirmation from the NHL regarding its intentions by 2024. “We want a decision by spring 2024 to give us two years to prepare properly this competition,” Tardif said.

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