Hockey Canada

Violence prevention can transform Canadian hockey culture — but only if implemented properly

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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The recent charges against five members of Canada’s gold medal-winning 2018 world junior hockey team in connection with an alleged sexual assault has thrust Hockey Canada and its issues back into the public eye.

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The recent charges against five members of Canada’s gold medal-winning 2018 world junior hockey team in connection with an alleged sexual assault has thrust Hockey Canada and its issues back into the public eye.
A woman sued Hockey Canada in 2022, alleging she had been sexually assaulted in a hotel room by eight Canadian Hockey League players, some of whom were members of the 2018 world junior team.
While coverage of this case continues to raise important questions about the systemic failures within Hockey Canada, many have been left wondering what can be done to prevent gender-based and sexual violence in the future.

Hockey Canada lacks accountability

But, as some critics have already articulated, their plans lack transparency, accountability and foresight in preventing violence.
In November 2023, Hockey Canada said they would not release their third-party report on the alleged 2018 sexual assault to the public.

The spectrum of violence

This Hockey Canada issue is not isolated; there have been many high-profile domestic and sexual violence cases in professional and competitive sports, including claims of hazing, harassment and sexual violence all the way down to the amateur level.
Gender-based violence doesn’t occur in a vacuum; it thrives in environments that facilitate it — particularly the normalization of hazing that is predicated on sexism, racism and homophobia.
Practices like hazing also create an environment where misogyny, homophobia and racism can escalate into tangible forms of violence outside the locker room.

Violence prevention programs

In my experience running gender-based violence prevention programs with young male athletes, many initially balk at violence prevention programs as they are seen as vilifying boys and men.
These findings contradict current models of violence prevention in professional or competitive sport, such as the OHL’s mandatory Onside training, which is a two-hour workshop for new players on sexual violence.

Addressing violence in sport

To meaningfully address violence in sport, gender-based violence programs must be ongoing and dynamic instead of being treated like a mere checkbox.
Investing in violence prevention that is evidence-based and sustainable is the key to ensuring that this violence stops.

Maddie Brockbank works at Interval House of Hamilton in the MentorAction program. Maddie is a Vanier Scholar and received doctoral funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Hockey organizations need to address the psychological impacts of team trauma, not just the physical ones

Retrieved on:

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Johnson passed away on Oct. 28 after being cut in the neck by another player’s skate blade during a professional hockey game in Sheffield, England.

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Johnson passed away on Oct. 28 after being cut in the neck by another player’s skate blade during a professional hockey game in Sheffield, England.
Understandably, a vigorous debate has ensued about whether neck guards should be made mandatory beyond the minor hockey league level.
Some leagues quickly responded by implementing neck guard policies and others might follow once the issue has been filtered through the proper channels.

Lasting impacts of traumatic events

This practice can damage athletes when they’re confronted with traumatic events, which are more frequent than many realize.
I have spent the last four years exploring team tragedy in the youth hockey context.
They didn’t want to appear as “damaged goods,” particularly when they were so close to their childhood NHL dreams.
Some players managed to sublimate their mental struggles while their hockey career lasted, but many experienced a significant, if delayed, reckoning in their late 30s.

Hope on the horizon

Recent troubling incidents involving Hockey Canada prove more can, and must, be done to improve the hockey experience.
Nevertheless, our interviews with youth hockey stakeholders demonstrate there is a clear desire to better support teams struck by tragedy.
What remains elusive, however, is an emergency plan that youth hockey organizations can implement once tragedy occurs.

Supporting player mental health

The money provided by Hockey Canada’s insurance for grief counselling is capped at $1,000 per team, which doesn’t go far in our inflationary times.
Minor hockey associations that operate in the not-for-profit space and rely heavily on volunteers are particularly shorthanded.
A recent change in leadership and direction shows Hockey Canada is serious about winning back the trust of the public.

Craig Greenham receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

New professional league for women’s hockey a reminder of NHL’s uncertain beginnings

Retrieved on:

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Part of the deal was the expectation that the PHF would merge with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) to launch a new league in 2024.

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Part of the deal was the expectation that the PHF would merge with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) to launch a new league in 2024.
What was overlooked were the ways in which the consolidation of women’s hockey is strikingly similar to the evolution of men’s professional hockey and the NHL over a century ago.
Nevertheless, at a time when hockey is under increased scrutiny, the NHL seems to remain the litmus test on which women’s hockey is measured.

Coming to the defence?

Cox’s readers bemoaned the media that was, in their view, pushing women’s hockey on readers.
Those kinds of comments are unfortunately reflective of attitudes that view women’s hockey as secondary to the men’s game.

Similar paths

Cox argued that the NHL grew out of pro leagues like the International Professional Hockey League (IPHL) and the National Hockey Association (NHA).
The IPHL existed from 1904-07 with teams primarily in Michigan and southwestern Ontario.
With the announcement of this new league, women’s hockey may now benefit from its own infusion of U.S. capital.

Sports media

The media was also central to the NHL’s success.
Media members were embedded within team structures: Foster Hewitt, the broadcaster and famed voice of Hockey Night in Canada, was a vice president at Maple Leaf Gardens.
His father was an amateur hockey administrator, while also serving as a sports editor for the Toronto Star.
The development of a new women’s hockey league in 2024 offers the potential for similar change.

What the end of Nike's sponsorship means for Hockey Canada

Retrieved on:

Friday, July 21, 2023

Nike originally paused the relationship in October 2022, but now has permanently ceased it after nearly 25 years of working with Hockey Canada.

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Nike originally paused the relationship in October 2022, but now has permanently ceased it after nearly 25 years of working with Hockey Canada.
It joins a host of other sponsors that have also paused their support for Hockey Canada, including Telus, Tim Hortons, Bauer Hockey, Canadian Tire, Scotiabank, Esso and Sobeys.
The unique relationship between the two parties has additional complexities that make the end of this sponsorship especially notable.

A mutually beneficial departure?

Even though Nike is the one that ended its partnership with Hockey Canada, the decision could be a positive development for both parties.
In 2018, the Globe and Mail reported that a Nike Canada employee bought alcohol for Hockey Canada players prior to the alleged sexual assault in 2018.
In addition, Nike Canada is currently under investigation for the potential use of forced Uyghur labour in China.

Nike’s foray into hockey

Additionally, Nike ventured beyond uniform production into the business of hockey equipment at the end of the last century.
In 1994, Nike purchased Canadian hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer for $395 million and began its aggressive expansion into the hockey landscape.
For this reason, Nike’s decision to end their partnership with Hockey Canada could be reflective of their broader strategy to leave the hockey marketplace, as much as an ethical statement on the organization or its current state.

Hockey Canada’s future

While the impact of this decision appears to have grave short-term financial consequences for Hockey Canada, it’s important to consider the scale of Hockey Canada’s cash reserves.
However, the numbers from Hockey Canada have so far indicated that bankruptcy will not be imminent following Nike’s decision.
The answer to this question will not only dictate the nature of future relationships between Hockey Canada and its sponsors or donors, but the connection felt between Canadians and their national teams.

Michener Award recognizes powerful investigations into Residential School funds and Hockey Canada mismanagement in joint ceremony honoring public service journalism

Retrieved on:

Friday, June 16, 2023

The Michener Award for 2021 is presented jointly to CBC Saskatoon: Inside the failed push to make Catholic Church pay for its residential school abuses and The Globe and Mail: Residential Schools.

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The Michener Award for 2021 is presented jointly to CBC Saskatoon: Inside the failed push to make Catholic Church pay for its residential school abuses and The Globe and Mail: Residential Schools.
"We are so fortunate to be able to confer the Michener Award for 2021 and 2022 in person once again at Rideau Hall.
The Michener Award was founded in 1970 by the late Roland Michener, then governor general, to honour excellence in public service journalism.
Thank you to the Michener Award Judges:
Jim Compton: Producer at Rising Day Media, formerly of CHUM-TV and APTN

The 2023 World Ice Hockey Championship is a breakthrough moment for women’s hockey

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

The 2023 Women’s World Ice Hockey Championship concluded in Brampton, Ont.

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The 2023 Women’s World Ice Hockey Championship concluded in Brampton, Ont.
on April 16 with the U.S. securing a 6-3 win over Canada.
Almost 60,000 fans attended the tournament, with 4,635 attending the championship match.

No longer in the margins

For decades, women’s hockey lived on the margins and was an under-valued and resource-starved part of the game.
As time passed, the structure of women’s and girls’ hockey expanded from grassroots to high performance, taking the game from its local origins to the international stage.
Over the course of my research on Canadian women’s hockey I have found members gain a distinct sense of control, leadership and involvement from participating together.
The ice crew shovelling the boards and crease during television timeouts were under-18 aged players from nearby girls’ teams.

Gender diversity

Another effective tactic of resistance is gender diversity among decision-makers.
Research shows that gender diverse boards can improve long-term organizational innovation and positively influence the success of women CEOs.

Media coverage

As a major conduit for legitimacy, media coverage plays an influential role in the game’s development and its infusion into broader hockey fandom.
Research has found women athletes prefer that coverage focus upon their competence rather than other characteristics.
Placing control of this message in the hands of women who know the game ensures this is emphasized.
While brands enter women’s hockey to expand market share, corporate-community initiatives must meet the needs of women and girls in hockey.

To change for the better, Canadian sport needs leadership from the bottom up

Retrieved on:

Monday, April 17, 2023

University sport teams have also faced their share of scandals including Lethbridge, St. Francis Xavier, Windsor, Victoria and Guelph.

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University sport teams have also faced their share of scandals including Lethbridge, St. Francis Xavier, Windsor, Victoria and Guelph.
Athletes often recount how, at the very least, sport built their character and at the very most, saved their lives.

Imbalance of power

Read more:
To clean up Hockey Canada, financial transparency is a must
At the core of abuse is an imbalance of power where one person, group or body controls all the resources, decision-making and information.
Total control can only be achieved through a lack of accountability, and examples exist at all levels in Canada:

Most of the abuse issues in Canadian sport stem from failures of leadership and governance, and most of the change has been driven by athlete movements and associations, journalists, academics and fans. The most productive and promising source of positive change in sport continues to come from the bottom up.

Change from the bottom up

True Sport is a bottom-up initiative by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport designed to help Canadians reclaim the promise of sport.
Canadian academics have led the way in understanding abuse problems in sport.
Yet, sport in Canada is currently caught in a hierarchical system that fosters power imbalance and thus perpetuates the abuse at all levels.
Nelson Mandela described sport as a tool against racism:
“Sport has the power to change the world.

Inclusive environment

We know from research on psychological safety that a safe environment is crucial to excellent sport experiences.
Psychological safety hinges on leadership and the ability to foster an environment where participants feel they belong and are safe to contribute, express ideas, learn, experiment and grow individually and collectively.

NEW Tim Hortons Legends Trading Cards launch today featuring NHL Alumni and Team Canada Women's legends including Wayne Gretzky, Hayley Wickenheiser, Patrick Roy, Angela James, and many more!

Retrieved on:

Monday, April 17, 2023

Hockey Hall of Fame, NHL Enterprises, LP, The 1990 Annual World's Best SF, Hockey, National Hockey League, NHL, Woman, Senior ice hockey, Tim Hortons, Ice, Collection, TIMS, Hall, Coffee, Canada national team, Video game, Hockey Canada

Collectors also have a chance to win autographed cards in their packs of Tim Hortons Legends Trading Cards including: 1 of 99 Wayne Gretzky signed cards, 1 of 33 Patrick Roy signed cards, and 1 of 22 Hayley Wickenheiser signed cards.

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Collectors also have a chance to win autographed cards in their packs of Tim Hortons Legends Trading Cards including: 1 of 99 Wayne Gretzky signed cards, 1 of 33 Patrick Roy signed cards, and 1 of 22 Hayley Wickenheiser signed cards.
TORONTO, April 17, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, Tim Hortons is launching the first-ever Tim Hortons Legends Trading Cards set, featuring 180 of some of the best and most influential NHL Alumni and Team Canada Women's hockey players to hit the ice, including Wayne Gretzky, Hayley Wickenheiser, Patrick Roy, Angela James and many more.
The Tim Hortons Legends Trading Cards collectable binder and the front of each pack of cards feature Wayne Gretzky, Hayley Wickenheiser and Patrick Roy.
The Alumni logo is a registered trademark of the NHL Alumni Association and is used under license by Tim Hortons.

headversity Joins Forces with Respect Group to Bolster its Preventative Mental Health Solutions

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

headversity , a leading provider of preventative mental health training technology for employers, today announced it has acquired Respect Group Incorporated (Respect), which offers interactive training courses aimed at preventing bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD).

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headversity , a leading provider of preventative mental health training technology for employers, today announced it has acquired Respect Group Incorporated (Respect), which offers interactive training courses aimed at preventing bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD).
Respect joins headversity as a market leader in building an inclusive, safe and respectful work culture, offering online certification training solutions that have upskilled more than 2.1 million leaders across North America.
), the combined brand will provide employers with a comprehensive solution that blends mental health and resilience upskilling with interactive certification courses – empowering them to build and maintain cultures of mental wellbeing and respect.
“We founded Respect almost 20 years ago to eliminate BAHD by inspiring a global culture of respect,” said Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder of Respect and former NHL hockey player.

Finalists chosen for CJF Jackman Excellence Award

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

TORONTO, April 5, 2023 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce its shortlists for the CJF Jackman Awards for Excellence in Journalism , honouring news organizations that embody exemplary journalism and have a profound positive impact on the communities they serve.

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TORONTO, April 5, 2023 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce its shortlists for the CJF Jackman Awards for Excellence in Journalism , honouring news organizations that embody exemplary journalism and have a profound positive impact on the communities they serve.
Through this prestigious award, the CJF has since 1996 recognized news organizations that embrace ideals of journalistic excellence – originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility, accountability and diversity.
"The compelling stories chosen as finalists covered subjects from across the country and beyond – social policy, sports, politics, environmental concerns and Indigenous affairs.
The CJF Jackman Award jury members are:
Catherine Cano, president of CanoVision and former executive with CPAC and Radio-Canada;
Wendy Metcalfe, vice-president of content and editor-in-chief, Hearst Connecticut Media Group.