One of Hockey Canada’s largest sponsors has announced it will not provide funding to the organization for the 2022-23 season.
Tim Hortons announced Wednesday that it is pulling its sponsorship to all of Hockey Canada’s men’s hockey programming including the men’s world junior championships. The company first suspended its sponsorship with Hockey Canada in June, after several sexual assault allegations came to light earlier this year.
“We’ve communicated to Hockey Canada on many occasions that the organization needs to take strong and definitive action before it regains the faith and trust of Canadians,” a statement from a Tim Hortons media relations representative read. “We’re deeply disappointed in the lack of progress that Hockey Canada has made to date.”
Tim Hortons officials said they informed Hockey Canada of the decision earlier this week. The company said it will continue to fund Canada’s women’s and para hockey teams, including youth hockey.
Also on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that it “boggles the mind that Hockey Canada is continuing to dig in its heels,” adding that Canadians are losing faith in the organization.
“It’s no surprise that provincial organizations are questioning whether or not they want to continue supporting an organization that doesn’t understand how serious a situation it has contributed to causing,” Trudeau said in response to comments made by Hockey Canada during a meeting on Tuesday with the Canadian Heritage standing committee.
Hockey Quebec had similar sentiments stating it has lost confidence in Hockey Canada and it will not transfer funds to the national organization.
In May 2022, TSN broke the news about a woman who had settled a lawsuit with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), after she claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight World Junior players in a hotel room during a foundation gala in London back in April 2018.
That allegation is currently being investigated by three organizations including the London Police Service, the National Hockey League and Hockey Canada.
The alleged 2018 assault does not appear to be an isolated incident either. In July, Hockey Canada said it had recently learned of another alleged group assault that reportedly occurred nearly two decades ago involving players of the 2002-03 National Junior Team.
A short time after that news came out, it was revealed that the now-disgraced organization paid out $7.6-million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and sexual abuse claims since 1989.
