Sportswear giant Nike has ended its sponsorship deal with Hockey Canada, following the ice hockey-governing body’s handling of sexual assault cases.
It started in 2018, when Canada’s world junior team members allegedly sexually assaulted a woman during a Hockey Canada Foundation gala in 2018. It’s alleged that Hockey Canada had “slush funds” to pay out sexual assault lawsuits with registration fees.
Members of Hockey Canada were questioned by parliament and even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Last fall, the entire board of Hockey Canada, including their president and CEO, resigned.
Nike had been one of Hockey Canada’s premiere partners since 1999. It suspended the partnership in October 2022 and has now called it off completely.
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Nike released a statement, which read:
“Nike is no longer a sponsor of Hockey Canada. We will continue to provide on-ice products for Hockey Canada athletes as part of our partnership with the International Ice Hockey Federation, but our individual partnership with the federation has ended.“
Nike isn’t the only one to have cut ties with Hockey Canada; Canadian Tire has also cut ties, while Scotiabank and Chevrolet Canada have paused their respective partnerships with Hockey Canada.
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