Toronto lawyer Andrea Skinner has been appointed interim chair of Hockey Canada鈥檚 board of directors.
Skinner is the first woman to hold the position in the organization鈥檚 history. She takes over for Michael Brind鈥橝mour, who resigned last week.
Hockey Canada is under the public and governmental microscope for its handling of sexual assault allegations against members of past junior men鈥檚 hockey teams.
The federal government has frozen funding to Hockey Canada until it meets several conditions, including a plan to change its culture.
Hockey Canada has appointed former Supreme Court of Canada judge Thomas Cromwell to review its governance.
The national governing body鈥檚 13 provincial, regional and territorial associations recommended Skinner step in as interim chair until the current board鈥檚 term ends in November, Hockey Canada said Tuesday in a statement.
鈥淪ince 1914, Hockey Canada has been the organization that Canadians have trusted to lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences. Recent events have called that trust into question,鈥� Hockey Canada said.
鈥淭his is of real concern to the board of directors who, as volunteers, have worked diligently since our election in November 2020 to deliver on our mission.
鈥淭hrough the recent launch of Hockey Canada鈥檚 Action Plan, we are committed to, among other things, elevating the expectations for everyone involved in hockey and effecting positive behaviour from the grassroots to the national team level.鈥�
Skinner was first elected to the board in 2020. She played four years of women鈥檚 college hockey at Cornell.
鈥淎s a board we are listening to Canadians,鈥� Skinner said. 鈥淲e are working to make meaningful positive changes to the culture of the sport of hockey.
鈥淚 sincerely believe the organization is taking positive steps to effect meaningful change from the grassroots to high-performance national team level.鈥�
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