Luc Tardif watched from afar as Hockey Canada lurched ahead in a scandal-plagued 2022.
After meeting with its new board of directors 害羞草研究所� a diverse group that better reflects the country害羞草研究所檚 makeup 害羞草研究所� the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation believes the future is bright at the badly damaged organization.
Speaking ahead of the final day of competition at the world junior hockey championship, Tardif said he met face-to-face with board chair Hugh Fraser and the eight directors who were elected last month.
He came away optimistic.
害羞草研究所淭hose people who were named are perfectly able to redress the situation,害羞草研究所� the Quebec-born Tardif said at a Thursday press conference inside Scotiabank Centre. 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 have to throw the baby (out) with the bathwater. There is something still good for ice hockey, but we have to correct.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 confident about the new board, the new chairman, and we have to give them a chance.害羞草研究所�
The previous board resigned in October 害羞草研究所� president and CEO Scott Smith exited the same day 害羞草研究所� in the wake of the federation害羞草研究所檚 botched handling of alleged sexual assaults and millions in hushed payments to victims using its little-known National Equity Fund (NEF).
Hockey Canada saw its funding shut off by the federal government, while a number of sponsors have pulled dollars since May when it was revealed a woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight players 害羞草研究所� including members of the 2018 world junior team 害羞草研究所� following a foundation gala in London, Ont., 4 1/2 years ago.
Hockey Canada and the woman quietly settled a $3.55-million lawsuit out of court.
The organization then announced members of the 2003 men害羞草研究所檚 world junior roster 害羞草研究所� the last time Halifax hosted 害羞草研究所� were being investigated for a group sexual assault.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
A series of disastrous heritage committee meetings on Parliament Hill saw Hockey Canada害羞草研究所檚 leadership grilled by MPs, eventually leading to the board害羞草研究所檚 resignation and Smith害羞草研究所檚 departure.
That came before the release of an independent governance review that made a number of recommendations related to leadership, transparency and how the NEF 害羞草研究所� maintained by registration fees and used to pay uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims 害羞草研究所� and two other funds should be managed.
Hockey Canada, which is in the process of hiring a new CEO now that the new board is in place, has also developed an 害羞草研究所渁ction plan害羞草研究所� to tackle the sport害羞草研究所檚 toxic culture.
害羞草研究所淭he position of IIHF about what happened in this country is clear,害羞草研究所� said Tardif, who害羞草研究所檚 awaiting the results of multiple investigations, including by police in London. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e following that closely.害羞草研究所�
Tardif added that moving the 2023 world juniors out of Russia 害羞草研究所� due to the war in Ukraine 害羞草研究所� to Halifax and Moncton, N.B., instead of larger Canadian markets that have given the event a lukewarm reception in recent years was the correct call.
害羞草研究所淭here is a spirit,害羞草研究所� Tardif said. 害羞草研究所淲e saw that the two communities were a little bit more involved in that tournament. You feel the tournament everywhere in Moncton in Halifax.
害羞草研究所淭hat was the best medicine for Canadian hockey and international hockey after this difficult year.害羞草研究所�
Dean McIntosh, Hockey Canada害羞草研究所檚 vice-president of events and properties, said the organization wasn害羞草研究所檛 fixated on the financial side of these world juniors with so many sponsors jumping ship.
害羞草研究所淥ur focus has really been on, 害羞草研究所楬ow do we bring a great product back to Canadians?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat has been a challenge as it relates to our sponsors.
害羞草研究所淲e think we害羞草研究所檝e made positive steps over the last few months.害羞草研究所�
Tardif felt the same.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 damage, but now we have to try to see how we can work,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淲e have to give them a chance to change.害羞草研究所�
TARDIF ON NHL, OLYMPICS
Tardif wants a decision on the NHL害羞草研究所檚 participation at the 2026 Olympics by the spring of 2024.
害羞草研究所淚t give us two years to prepare properly (for) this competition,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 optimistic, but everybody has to do an effort to be there.
害羞草研究所淵ou need to have the same rules as the other athletes. We are not a travel agency. We organize a competition.害羞草研究所�
The NHL pulled the plug on the 2022 Games in Beijing because of COVID-19 concerns and hasn害羞草研究所檛 participated on the sporting world害羞草研究所檚 biggest stage since 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
害羞草研究所淚f we discussed directly with the players 害羞草研究所� the players want to go 害羞草研究所� we would find a way,害羞草研究所� Tardif said. 害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 more complicated than that.害羞草研究所�
WORLD CUP TIMING
Tardif said the IIHF isn害羞草研究所檛 a fan of the reimagined World Cup of Hockey being played in February because of the impact on European leagues and how close it would be to the men害羞草研究所檚 world championships in May.
The NHL hoped the World Cup would return in 2024, but it now won害羞草研究所檛 happen until the following year 害羞草研究所� at the earliest 害羞草研究所� because of the war in Ukraine and Russia害羞草研究所檚 banishment from international play.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a big problem for us,害羞草研究所� Tardif said of a winter event. 害羞草研究所淲e prefer August, September, October.害羞草研究所�
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
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