'I was appalled': Major sponsors distance themselves from Hockey Canada amid allegations
The governing body of Canada's national pastime has lost three major sponsors following an alleged sexual assault scandal.
On Tuesday, Scotiabank and Telus announced they were pausing their sponsorship of Hockey Canada due to an investigation of a 2018 sexual assault allegation against members of Canada's world junior hockey team.
Canadian Tire went one step further, saying it's withdrawing its financial support for the upcoming world junior tournament in Moncton and Halifax.
An unidentified woman filed a lawsuit in April claiming she was repeatedly assaulted in a hotel room in London, On, after a Hockey Canada golf tournament and gala event.
The woman alleged in her lawsuit some of the men who attacked her were members of the 2018 gold-medal-winning team from four years ago.
Hockey Canada has since reportedly settled the lawsuit for an unknown amount and the allegations against the players have never been proven.
In a statement released Tuesday, Scotiabank Cheif Executive Officer Brian Porter said in part;
“I was appalled by the recent reports of alleged assault involving younger ambassadors of Canada’s game.”
“The alleged behaviour in this current case is contrary to the beliefs and values that hockey is meant to embody, and those that we champion at Scotiabank, as Canada’s hockey bank.”
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said they are watching the situation closely.
"We're certainly calling on Hockey Canada to be more transparent. More transparency is what's needed for sure. We made a commitment to the World Juniors at Christmas time and that commitment stands," said Houston.
Freelance journalist Will MacLaren covers the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for The Hockey News. The Halifax-based writer doesn't believe the world juniors are in jeopardy but thinks some fans may stay away from Team Canada's games.
"I think that's a distinct possibility and I think that ties in as well with what we're seeing with the sponsorship situation," said MacLaren.
"To be perfectly blunt, perhaps there's some people within the Hockey Canada community that will feel a greater impact if they were hit in the wallet than if they were based on personal feelings."
Craig Eagles has been involved in hockey all his life, as a player, coach, broadcaster and as a junior scout. He calls the current situation a black eye for Hockey Canada.
"With so many sponsors pulling out, especially from a federal standpoint as well, Hockey Canada might struggle. Will they struggle from a hockey product on the ice? No, it's every kid's dream to play for Canada, for their country. But, financially this is going to hurt," said Eagles.
The 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship is set to begin on Boxing Day at Moncton's Avenir Centre and Halifax's Scotiabank Centre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We've been abandoned': Man dies in B.C. town waiting for health care near ambulance station
For the second time in less than a month, a resident of Ashcroft, B.C., died while waiting for health care.

Canadian home sales fall for 5th month in a row, down 29 per cent from last July
Canada's average resale home price fell 4.5% from a year ago in July and was down 5.4% on the month as buyers continued to sit on the sidelines amid rising borrowing costs.
British regulator 1st in world to OK Moderna's updated COVID booster
British drug regulators have become the first in the world to authorize an updated version of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine that aims to protect against the original virus and the omicron variant.
Canada less than halfway to Afghan resettlement goal one year after Taliban takeover
A year after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, Canada's resettlement efforts have lagged behind official targets and the efforts to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine. More than 17,300 Afghans have arrived in Canada since last August compared to 71,800 Ukrainians who have come to Canada in 2022 alone.
Anne Heche taken off life support, 9 days after car crash
Anne Heche, the Emmy-winning film and television actor whose dramatic Hollywood rise in the 1990s and accomplished career contrasted with personal chapters of turmoil, died of injuries from a fiery car crash. She was 53.
China announces new drills as U.S. delegation visits Taiwan
China announced more military drills around Taiwan as the self-governing island's president met with members of a new U.S. congressional delegation on Monday, threatening to renew tensions between Beijing and Washington just days after a similar visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered China.
Padma Lakshmi 'worried and wordless' over attack on ex-husband Salman Rushdie
Padma Lakshmi is supporting her ex-husband Salman Rushdie in his recovery. The 'Top Chef' star tweeted Sunday that she is 'relieved' Rushdie is 'pulling through after Friday's nightmare' in which he was stabbed multiple times while on stage in New York.
Colonial Building in Newfoundland won't be renamed after all: provincial government
The Newfoundland and Labrador government says it will not be changing the name of the Colonial Building in downtown St. John's.
5 ways being single can cost you more
Amid high inflation and rising cost of living, a person's relationship status can impact their finances. There are five ways in which flying solo can put you at a financial disadvantage and a few ways to mitigate them.