The powerful Nike brand is in turn suspending its partnership with Hockey Canada and its support, while the authorities of this national sports organization are under enormous pressure regarding their handling of cases of alleged sexual assault.
Hockey Canada’s website lists Nike as one of its top four sponsorship partners, dating back to 1999. The other three — Tim Hortons, Esso and Telus — have already suspended their support of Canada’s amateur hockey governing body.
Sportswear giant Nike joins a growing list of top sponsors, including Scotiabank, Chevrolet Canada and Canadian Tire, which have also withdrawn their support of Hockey Canada.
Nike spokeswoman Sandra Carreon-John said Friday that the company is “deeply concerned” by the information currently circulating about Hockey Canada. “We believe that significant and substantial action is needed to support athletes and transform hockey for future generations,” she said in a statement.
Nike will continue to monitor the situation closely at Hockey Canada and is awaiting more information on what the organization will do to support investigations into the alleged sexual assaults, Ms.me Carreon-John.
A Bauer spokesperson said Friday the company is closely monitoring developments in the matter. The hockey equipment maker announced in July that it was suspending financial sponsorship of the World Junior Hockey Championships, which were being held the following month in Edmonton.
Mary-Kay Messier, vice president of global marketing at Bauer, said at the time that the sexual assault allegations and Hockey Canada’s handling of them were “extremely disturbing” and raised “questions about the future of our partnership” with the national amateur hockey organization.
The provincial hockey federations of Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia have alternately announced this week that they will no longer transfer to the national organization part of the dues paid to them by the parents of young players. .
It was learned last May that Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit against a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight players from the 2018 Junior Men’s National Team following a sports awards gala in London, Ontario that year.
Hockey Canada later admitted that it dipped into young minor hockey players’ membership fees to pay for “uninsured liabilities”, including to settle claims related to sexual assault allegations.