For months the sport’s national governing frame, Hockey Canada, has been stuck up in a rising scandal over its failure to deal with allegations of sexual attack.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Canada’s national sport is embroiled in a scandal. The whole leadership of Hockey Canada has now stepped down. For months, the sport’s governing frame has contended with revelations about sexual attacks allegations and slush finances value thousands and thousands utilized by Hockey Canada to settle complaints. Emma Jacobs has extra from Montreal.
EMMA JACOBS, BYLINE: The unfolding scandal at Hockey Canada has change into the topic of wall-to-wall protection.
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UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Breaking information about an exodus at Hockey Canada.
JACOBS: Pressure at the group, which fields Canada’s national groups however is additionally the governing frame for beginner hockey, has been rising for months. Canadian information shops have published a couple of settlements made by way of Hockey Canada in sexual attack instances. These come with one declare by way of a lady alleging she used to be assaulted by way of a bunch of 8 contributors of the 2018 junior national crew. Canadians have additionally realized the group created slush finances to settle complaints from the registration charges of youngsters and leisure league gamers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the resignations however stated the truth that they’d taken see you later confirmed the group had now not understood the gravity of the placement.
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PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU: There’s paintings to do to turn into the tradition at Hockey Canada, however these days used to be crucial first step.
JACOBS: Just closing week, period in-between board chair Andrea Skinner had defended the leadership when she spoke back questions from a parliamentary committee investigating the scandal.
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ANDREA SKINNER: Suggesting that poisonous conduct is in some way a particular hockey drawback or to scapegoat hockey as a centerpiece for poisonous tradition is, in my opinion, counterproductive to discovering answers and dangers overlooking the trade that must be made extra widely.
JACOBS: The outcry over her remarks used to be instant, and Skinner resigned over the weekend. The complaint of Hockey Canada has come now not simply from fanatics however from sponsors.
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UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As personality) The early-rising folks, the yard rink developers.
JACOBS: Long time sponsors like Canadian Tire, Nike and Tim Hortons have scale back or pulled their beef up. But this is now not going to be the top of the bankruptcy. More revelations are anticipated from an unbiased investigative staff created by way of Hockey Canada, and there are ongoing police investigations.
For NPR News, I’m Emma Jacobs in Montreal.
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