Nike announces that it will permanently end its sponsorship of Hockey Canada

Nike announced Monday that it will permanently end its sponsorship of Hockey Canada in the wake of its handling of a high-profile alleged gang assault.

The sportswear giant first announced a temporary suspension of support in October last year, at a time when corporate sponsors Chevrolet Canada, Scotiabank and Canadian Tire had also withdrawn their financial support.

“Nike is no longer a sponsor of Hockey Canada,” a company statement released Monday said.

“We will continue to provide on-ice products to Hockey Canada athletes as part of our partnership with the International Ice Hockey Federation, but our individual partnership with the federation has ended.”

Hockey Canada has been embroiled in controversy over the handling of a $3.5 million lawsuit for over a year.

A young woman filed a claim last year alleging eight hockey players sexually assaulted her after a 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont.

London police are currently investigating the reopening of the case amid great public interest following an eight-month investigation that originally concluded in February 2019 without charge.

Unsealed court documents from last year showed that London police had solid grounds to charge five world youth players with assault.

Using registration fees to handle complaints

The woman, who was 20 at the time, alleges that eight unnamed CHL players — including some from Canada’s U20 men’s junior hockey team — sexually assaulted her on June 19, 2018, according to her claim statement filed in April 2022.

Hockey Canada was accused in the claim statement of failing to address systematic abuse in its organization and of endorsing a “culture and environment that glorified the degradation and sexual exploitation of young women.”

The claims have not been proven in court.

Last year, the Globe and Mail reported that a senior Nike Canada employee bought drinks for national junior hockey players just before the alleged assault, according to unsealed court documents.

During the controversy, hockey parents were outraged to learn that Hockey Canada had quietly paid $8.9 million to 21 complainants since 1989 using the national equity fund consisting of players’ registration fees without them knowing.

Hockey Canada’s entire board of directors and CEO stepped down last fall after months of public scrutiny and calls from politicians of all stripes and the minister of sports for the organization to review its leadership. Hockey Canada appointed Katherine Henderson as its new president and CEO earlier this month.

CBC News has contacted Hockey Canada for comment.