Team Canada forward Kent Johnson (13) carries the puck around Team Finland forward Toni Hirvonen (22) during overtime in the championship game during the IIHF U20 Ice Hockey World Championship at Rogers Place. Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Hortons and Scotiabank pull Hockey Canada sponsorships for 2022–23 season

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 10/5/22

A pair of major Hockey Canada sponsors have pulled their support of the organization for the 2022–23 hockey season, with more permanent revocations potentially on the way.

According to multiple reports, both Tim Hortons and Scotiabank — respectively among Canada’s largest restaurant chains and financial institutions — have informed Hockey Canada they will suspend their sponsorships for the 2022–23 season.

Furthermore, TSN’s Rick Westhead reported that numerous Hockey Canada sponsors are considering “permanently ending their business relationships” with the organization.

New: A group of Hockey Canada’s corporate partners are discussing permanently ending their business relationships with HC, using “reputational damage” clauses in their contracts to justify the moves, four people familiar with the matter told me. https://t.co/P2Tq9fOlDH
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 5, 2022

Numerous sponsors already paused their support of Hockey Canada earlier this year after reports first surfaced indicating the governing body paid to settle a lawsuit concerning an alleged group sexual assault committed by members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior men’s hockey team.

Subsequent reports revealed the existence of multiple Hockey Canada-managed funds, supported by player registration fees, used to settle sexual abuse claims, as well as another alleged group sexual assault involving members of the 2003 World Junior team.

Earlier this week, former Hockey Canada chair Michael Brind’Amour and his interim replacement, Andrea Skinner, appeared in front of the House of Commons’ Canadian Heritage Committee. Both thoroughly reaffirmed their support for current Hockey Canada leadership.

In its statement to Westhead, Tim Hortons said it is “deeply disappointed in the progress that Hockey Canada has made to date.” In a similar statement to The Athletic‘s Katie Strang, Scotiabank said its position on Hockey Canada leadership remains that “the time for change is long overdue.”

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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