The Canadian Ice Hockey Association has spent nearly a hundred million crowns to silence sexual assault.
The scandal is growing after the union came under pressure in Parliament, but Chairman Scott Smith still wants to stay.
– I think I have the experience to do it, he says.
In May, reports surfaced that several players on the Canadian JVM team that have won gold since 2018 have been accused of sexual assault by a now 24-year-old woman.
Eight players from the team allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room in connection with a summer golf tournament after the JVM tournament.
The Canadian Hockey Association was heavily involved in the matter and, according to TSN, reached a settlement with the woman who received 27 million kroner in compensation.
Used 91 million
The incident – as well as additional cases involving allegations of hockey player abuse – has now led to in Canada The Hockey Federation was questioned by the country’s parliament.
The union then admitted that it used large sums of money to settle victims in suspected sexual assault cases. The hockey league has revealed that since 1989 it has paid $8.9 million – 91 million kronor – to 21 people, CBC reports.
The Hockey Federation’s chief financial officer, Brian Cairo, also testified that approximately 78 million Swedish kronor from the “National Equity Fund” was used to pay the settlement money. It is a fund that receives its income largely from association membership fees.
When the information came out, the union decided it would stop using the fund’s money to silence sexual assault.
I think, of course, it’s a step in the right direction, says Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has criticized the hockey federation, according to CBC.
responds to criticism
Scott Smith, president and CEO of the Canadian Hockey Association, plans to stay in office despite the growing scandal. He was criticized during Wednesday’s hearing by Parliament.
– Liberal politician Anthony Hausfather told Smith, according to TSN: There has to be greater cultural change than what it promises at the Canadian Ice Hockey Association.
“I strongly believe there must be new leadership in the Canadian Ice Hockey Association,” says Governor John Nutter.
Scott Smith replied that he was willing to take responsibility for bringing about change within the Union.
– I think I have the experience to do that. But if a board of directors or a government investigation suggests I’m not the right person, I’m willing to accept, Smith says.