Bauer announced it paused its role as the official gear supplier for Hockey Canada’s men’s teams. The move also includes the sponsorship of men’s tournaments, such as the World Junior Championship.
The company previously supplied equipment, including sticks, helmets and gloves, for players participating in international events.
The move doesn’t affect the women’s teams, and Hockey Canada can still purchase equipment for men’s teams. The profits will be invested in hockey programs for women and other underrepresented communities.
Among the various other sponsorship changes, Nike announced on Friday that it was also suspending its relationship with Hockey Canada. Telus, Tim Hortons and Imperial Oil – three other “premier” Hockey Canada partners – have either fully stopped or temporarily suspended their support.
The move comes after Hockey Canada returned to face scrutiny this week from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. On Tuesday, former Hockey Canada board chair Michael Brind’Amour and interim chair Andrea Skinner faced tough questions, including why CEO Scott Smith had not been fired over the company’s handling of alleged sexual assaults.
Various Canadian hockey organizations, such as Hockey Quebec and Hockey Nova Scotia, will not pay player membership fees to Hockey Canada.
The Canadian government froze funding to Hockey Canada earlier this year after news broke that it settled a $3.55 million lawsuit with a woman who alleged eight hockey players from the 2018 Canadian World Junior team sexually assaulted her. The allegations have not been proven in court as of now.
Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he has considered scrapping Hockey Canada and moving forward with a new hockey governing body. Trudeau said Hockey Canada has lost the “confidence of Canadians” and thinks it’s “inconceivable” that the group can remain with its current leadership.
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