Hockey Canada is in shambles. What does this mean for kids in hockey? | Article

Minor league reps say kids shouldn’t be affected

⭐️HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️

• WARNING: This story contains information that is distressing. If you find this topic triggering, ask an adult or someone you trust to read it with you.

• Hockey Canada’s board has resigned.

• The organization oversees the majority of minor hockey in Canada.

• Some have questioned if and how this will affect children.

• CBC Kids News talked to reps from several of Hockey Canada’s Provincial branches.

• They say the immediate impact may be more positive than bad.

• Read on to find out more. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Hockey Canada may be falling apart, but kids across Canada who play the sport may not have to worry about it.

After months of scrutiny from the public, corporate sponsors and even the prime minister, Hockey Canada announced Oct. 10 that its entire board of directors and CEO will resign.

The organization has faced pressure to change its leadership following criticism around its alleged mishandling of sexual assault within the organization.

As the national governing body, Hockey Canada oversees ice hockey across the country, including minor leagues for kids.

Now that Hockey Canada is slated to go through massive changes, CBC Kids News talked to two representatives in Canadian minor leagues to find out how the overhaul could affect kids in hockey.

“You will notice absolutely no difference in minor hockey.” — Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association President Craig Robinson

What happened?

In the spring, several allegations of sexual assault by Canadian hockey players surfaced.

This included allegations from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight players from the Canadian Hockey League in 2018.

Hockey Canada has existed in various forms and under different names for the last 108 years. It governs 13 different Provincial branches which oversee the majority of minor hockey across Canada, many of which are now distancing themselves from the organization. (Image credit: CBC)

It then came to light that Hockey Canada had used a secret fund to pay court settlements to many of the victims.

Canadians were outraged to discover that the fund included money from registration fees of minor hockey players across Canada.

Hockey Canada Revealed it had paid out $8.9 million in Settlements to 21 complainants with sexual misconduct claims since 1989.

The organization was criticized for their handling of these allegations.

Many called for a complete overhaul, which is what led to the dismantling of Hockey Canada’s board.

How does this affect children?

Several provincial-level hockey organizations have stopped giving their money to Hockey Canada until changes take place.

Hockey Canada branches in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba have taken action in past weeks to demand change from the organization. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Craig Robinson is the president of the Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association, a division of Hockey Nova Scotia.

While Robinson said that it’s hard to know exactly how things will take shape, players under Nova Scotia’s branch are in the clear for now.

“For the vast majority of players, you will notice absolutely no difference in minor hockey,” said Robinson in an interview with CBC Kids News.

“The lights will stay on, players will go to tournaments and be back in rinks enjoying themselves.”

In the long term, Robinson said that if Hockey Canada were to crumble, Provincial branches would need to overcome some hurdles, but would likely be fine and continue to function.

Craig Robinson, pictured here, is the president of the Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association. They said there’d be hurdles to overcome should Hockey Canada dismantle, like insuring players and replacing their player and Coach registry, but that they could still function. (Image credit: CBC)

Mike Rhys, a board member and Coach who works with Collingwood Minor Hockey, a division of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, agreed. They said there should be “no immediate effect” on kids at the minor level.

“Speaking as a dad with a daughter and son in hockey, I really don’t have any concerns at all,” said Rhys in an interview with CBC Kids News.

Rhys added that a national governing body like Hockey Canada is useful, but said it would likely “continue in Ontario and across Canada at the grassroots level” even if the organization were to dissolve.

If Hockey Canada’s 13 branches were to go independent, they’d need to figure out how to re-establish a standard set of rules between provinces.

In the past, Hockey Canada set the rules and regulations between provinces which makes inter-provincial competition fair.

The immediate change is good, says rep

Robinson believes the upcoming changes will be positive.

“I think what we’ll see is a greater focus on safety, openness and transparency, and a greater focus on inclusion and education of coaches and players,” said Robinson.

Craig Robinson said his association is already making changes like new training for staff to make hockey a Safer space for young players, like those on this U 15 AA team. (Image credit: Halifaxhawksmha/Instagram)

Issues in hockey culture have never been more exposed and parents, coaches and players are openly talking about them.

Robinson said that his association is already making changes at a local level.

He mentioned a greater focus on a new principle called “two-deep,” which ensures that at least two certified adults are in a locker room at any given time.

This allows coaches to combat toxic locker room culture and make sure that players aren’t facing abuse or discrimination.

It remains to be seen what Hockey Canada will look like going forward.

An election to determine the organization’s new board is set for Dec. 17.

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With files from Joshua Clipperton/CBC, Jenna Benchetrit/CBC.
TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Shutterstock