Wikipedia

Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada(which merged with theCanadian Amateur Hockey Associationin 1994) is the national governing body ofice hockeyandice sledge hockeyin Canada. It is a member of theInternational Ice Hockey Federationand controls the majority of organized ice hockey in Canada.[1][2]There are some notable exceptions, such as theCanadian Hockey League,U Sports(formerly known as Canadian Interuniversity Sport), and Canada's professional hockey clubs; the former two are partnered with Hockey Canada but are not member organizations. Hockey Canada is based inCalgary,with a secondary office inOttawaand regional centres inToronto,WinnipegandMontreal.

Hockey Canada
Founded1968(1968)
HeadquartersCalgary
LocationOttawa,Toronto,Montreal,Winnipeg
PresidentKatherine Henderson
CEOKatherine Henderson
ReplacedCanadian Amateur Hockey Association(merger in 1994)
(founded)December 4, 1914
Official website
www.hockeycanada.ca
Canada

History

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The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was founded on December 4, 1914, when 21 delegates from across Canada met at theChateau LaurierinOttawa.The organization was made to oversee the amateur level of the sport at the national level. TheAllan Cup,originally donated in 1908 by SirH. Montagu Allan,was selected as the championship of amateur hockey in Canada.William Northey,the trustee of the Allan Cup, was named the first ever chairman, while Dr.W. F. Taylorwas named the inaugural president. TheMemorial Cupwas the junior amateur championship of Canada.[3]

In 1920, after theWinnipeg Falconswon theAllan Cupover theUniversity of Toronto,they represented Canada at the1920 Summer Olympic Games.Canada would go 3-0-0 to win the sport's first ever Olympic gold medal.[3]

TheOttawa and District Amateur Hockey Associationjoined in 1920, followed by the Maritime Amateur Hockey Association in 1928.[3]

On June 30, 1947, the CAHA, theNational Hockey Leagueand theAmateur Hockey Association of the United Statesmade an agreement that no player under the age of 18 could be signed as a professional player without the permission of their amateur club. That same year, theInternational Ice Hockey Federationchanged the rules on amateur status. The rule change means the1948 Allan CupchampionRoyal Montreal Hockey Clubwere not eligible for the1948 Winter Olympics,so the CAHA sent theRCAF Flyersinstead and were victorious.[3]

At the1952 Winter Olympics,theEdmonton Mercurieswon their nation's last Olympic gold until 2002.[3]

In 1961, theTrail Smoke Eaterswon Canada's 19th and last world championship for 33 years at the1961 World Ice Hockey Championships.In 1964,Father David BauerformedCanada's national teamin response to the success of the programs set up by theSoviet Union,Czechoslovakia,andSweden.Three years later, the CAHA opened its first ever national office, located inWinnipeg.[3]

TheNewfoundland Amateur Hockey Association,led by association presidentDon Johnson,entered the CAHA in 1966. Johnson became CAHA president in 1975. TheNew Brunswick Amateur Hockey Associationleft the Maritime AHA brand in 1968 and entered the CAHA as a member.[3]

1968 to 1994

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Canadian national junior team vs Finland at an exhibition game in Calgary

In 1968, the Hockey Canada organization was founded to oversee Canada's national teams.

In 1970, the CAHA's 13 Junior A league were divided into two tiers. Tier I, theWestern Canada Junior Hockey League,theOntario Hockey Association,and theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League,were eligible to compete for theMemorial Cup.The ten leagues of Tier II, would compete for theManitoba Centennial Cup,donated by theManitoba Amateur Hockey Association(See:Canadian Junior Hockey League).

Also in 1970, Canada pulled out of IIHF competition and would not return to the fold until 1977[3]in protest of the IIHF's soft stance on Soviet and Czechoslovakian teams using "professional amateurs" in international competition but not allowing professional players to compete for Canada.

In 1972, Canada and the Soviet Union competed in the1972 Summit Series.Canada's team was composed of NHL stars, while the Soviet players were from the Red Army. The NHLers won the series 4-3-1.[3]Two years later, theWorld Hockey Associationrepresented Canada and lostthe series1-4-3. In 1976, theCanada Cupwas formed as a best-on-best championship.

In 1974, theNova Scotia Amateur Hockey AssociationandPrince Edward Island Amateur Hockey Associationare formed out of the dissolution of the Maritime AHA.[3]

TheWorld Junior Ice Hockey Championshipswas held for the first time. Canada, who sent Memorial Cup champion teams in early years, eventually set up a national team and won their first gold medal at the1982 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[3]

In 1975, the QMJHL, WCJHL, and the renamed Ontario Major Junior Hockey League form an umbrella organization known as theCanadian Major Junior Hockey League.With the creation of the CMJHL, the three league began initiating compensation talks with the NHL and WHA without CAHA input. In 1980, the CMJHL separated from the CAHA, only staying loosely affiliated with the national body. With the separation of the CMJHL, Tier II was promoted to simply Junior A, although the Tier II title still persists in hockey vernacular. To this day, the CMJHL (nowCanadian Hockey League) releases its players to Hockey Canada to play at theWorld Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

In 1983, the firstAbby Hoffman Cupwas awarded to the Burlington Ladies as the Canadian national senior champions of women's hockey.

In 1990, the forerunner to theCanadian Junior Hockey Leaguewas created as an umbrella organization, within the CAHA, to oversee Junior A hockey.

TheCanada women's national ice hockey teamwas formed in 1987 and won the first (unofficial) world championship that year. The1990 IIHF Women's World Championshipwas the first official event, also won by Canada.[3]

In 1994, Team Canada ended a 33-year drought by winning the1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.[3]

1994 to 2022

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Canadian national sledge hockey team vs Sweden, Vancouver 2010 Paralympics

In 1994, Hockey Canada and the CAHA merged into one organization. Also, theInternational Olympic Committeeelected to allow professional players to compete at the Olympics and created a women's event at the games. That same year,Hockey Northbecame the 13th branch of Hockey Canada.[3]

The Canadianmen and womenwon gold at the2002 Winter OlympicsinSalt Lake City.The Canadian men win their first gold medal in fifty years, while the women win their first in two tries.[3]

In 2004, theCanada men's national ice sledge hockey teamwas welcomed into the Hockey Canada fold,[3]andMark Aubrywas named theChief Medical Officerof Hockey Canada.[4][5]

In 2006, the Canadian women won gold at the2006 Olympicsand the sledge team conquered gold at the2006 Winter Paralympics.

TheClarkson Cup,donated by theGovernor General of CanadaAdrienne Clarkson,was created in 2006, and was first awarded in 2009 to the Canadian national senior champions of women's hockey.[6]The Clarkson Cup replaced the Abby Hoffman Cup.

Team Canada's men's and women's teams won gold in both the2010and2014Winter Olympics, hosted by Vancouver and Sochi respectively.[7][8]

Tom Renneyretired as chief executive officer of Hockey Canada on July 1, 2022, and was succeeded byScott Smithwho also served as president.[9]

Sexual assault incidents

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Main article:Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal

In June 2022, a scandal emerged over Hockey Canada's handling of sexual assault allegations surrounding the organization, stemming from its May 2022 settlement of alleged abuses by members of Canada's junior team in 2018.Minister for SportPascale St-Ongesuspended federal funding of Hockey Canada viaSport Canada,and called for an audit over whether taxpayer money was used to pay out these settlements. Later that month, theStanding Committee on Canadian Heritageopened an inquiry into the settlement.[10][11]which revealed a history of sexual misconduct cases raised against Hockey Canada, and that the organization had spentC$7.6 million out of a "National Equity Fund" —funded with player registration fees—to help pay out settlements in 21 sexual misconduct cases since 1989.[12][13][14]

Amid calls for leadership changes at Hockey Canada, Smith and the entire board of directors resigned on October 11, 2022.[15]

Exceptional player status

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Hockey Canada determines if an underage player is eligible for "exceptional status".[16]Exceptional player status allows skilled, underage hockey players to enter themajor junior circuitearly.[17]Since 2005, eight players have been granted exceptional status:John Tavares,Aaron Ekblad,Sean Day,Connor McDavid,Joseph Veleno,Shane Wright,Connor BedardandMichael Misa.Seven have gone number one in their respective major junior drafts while four players have been selectedfirst overallin their respective NHL drafts.[18]

2023 to present

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Katherine Hendersonwas appointed as chief executive officer and president in 2023.[19]

In 2023, theBritish Columbia Hockey Leaguedecided not to renew its agreement with Hockey Canada and became an independent league. The league cited improved recruitment opportunities for 16 and 17 year old players in Canada as well as anticipated improved interest from Americans and players outside of North America as important reasons for the decision.[20]In April 2024, theVancouver Island Junior Hockey Leaguefollowed suit and announced it would also withdraw and become an independent farm league for theBCHLbeginning in the 2024-25 season.[21][22]

In the 2024–25 season, Hockey Canada and its four western affiliates –BC Hockey,Hockey Alberta,Hockey SaskatchewanandHockey Manitoba– will pilot the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM). Under the WCDM,junior leagueswill adopt most of theWestern Hockey Leaguerulebook, excluding some sections, and restrictions on 15-year-old affiliate players in theWestern Hockey Leaguewill be loosened. Players that will be 18-years of age or older in the calendar year will be allowed to choose whether to use full-face protection or half-face protection, whilst younger players will be required to use full-face protection.[23]

List of presidents

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List of Canadian Amateur Hockey Association presidents (1914–1994), and Hockey Canada presidents (1994–present).[24][25]Prior to the merger of the two organizations in 1994, Hockey Canada leadership includedMax Bell,Charles Hay,Doug Fisher,Lou Lefaive,Bill Hay,andDerek Holmes.

Affiliated organizations

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Organizations in cooperation with Hockey Canada

On-ice officials

Non-member partners

National competitions

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Inter-branch

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Defunct

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International competitions

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Canada
Association nameHockey Canada
IIHF CodeCAN
IIHFmembership1920
PresidentKatherine Henderson
IIHF men's ranking1
IIHF women's ranking1
https://www.hockeycanada.ca

Run by Hockey Canada

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Run by the IIHF

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Run by other organizations

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References

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  1. ^Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (January 1, 2012).Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice.ABC-CLIO.ISBN9781598843002– via Google Books.
  2. ^"Hockey Canada vows to right what went wrong at world juniors | Toronto Star".The Star.January 3, 2016.
  3. ^abcdefghijklmnop"History of Hockey Canada".Hockey Canada.
  4. ^"Paul Loicq Award: Dr Mark Aubry (CAN)".IIHF.2014.RetrievedJuly 31,2018.
  5. ^"Dr. Mark Aubry – 2006 Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Award".Dr. Pashby Sports Safety Fund.November 18, 2006.RetrievedAugust 1,2018.
  6. ^"Need to know: CWHL Clarkson Cup on Sportsnet".Sportsnet.March 10, 2016.
  7. ^"Canada's core, led by Sidney Crosby, continues world hockey domination".CBC Sports.September 30, 2016.
  8. ^"Haley Irwin returns for Four Nations Cup".CBC Thunder Bay.October 18, 2016.
  9. ^"Tom Renney to retire from Hockey Canada".Hockey Canada.April 20, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  10. ^"What to know ahead of this week's Hockey Canada hearings".Sportsnet.ca.RetrievedAugust 9,2022.
  11. ^Mosleh, Omar (July 22, 2022)."The Hockey Canada scandal: What we know, and don't know, about the two sexual-assault incidents".thestar.com.RetrievedAugust 15,2022.
  12. ^"Hockey Canada: A sex assault scandal disgraces country's pastime".BBC News.August 6, 2022.RetrievedAugust 9,2022.
  13. ^Burke, Ashley (July 29, 2022)."Crisis on ice: What you need to know about the Hockey Canada scandal".CBC.
  14. ^"Hockey Canada paid out $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements since 1989".CBC News.July 27, 2022.RetrievedAugust 19,2022.
  15. ^"CEO Scott Smith leaves Hockey Canada, entire board steps down".Sportsnet.Toronto, Ontario. October 11, 2022.RetrievedOctober 11,2022.
  16. ^"Michael Misa joins elite class of 15-year-olds granted exceptional status in OHL".CBC. The Canadian Press.RetrievedOctober 23,2023.
  17. ^Brien, David."The Definition of Exceptional".Hockey Canada.RetrievedOctober 23,2023.
  18. ^Anderson, Rhett."The Exceptionals: A History of the CHL'S Exceptional Player Status".The Draft Report.RetrievedOctober 23,2023.
  19. ^"Hockey Canada names former Curling Canada exec Katherine Henderson as president, CEO".CTVNews.July 4, 2023.RetrievedJuly 4,2023.
  20. ^"BCHL pulls out of Hockey Canada, becomes an independent league".The Province.May 1, 2023.
  21. ^Ewen, Steve (April 30, 2024)."Vancouver Island Junior B loop cuts ties with Hockey Canada, joins forces with BCHL".The Province.Postmedia.RetrievedMay 29,2024.
  22. ^"VIJHL announces decision to become independent league".vijhl.com.Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.RetrievedMay 29,2024.
  23. ^Ewen, Steve (July 12, 2024)."Feud for thought: Rivals Hockey Canada and BCHL provide duelling announcements".The Province.Postmedia.RetrievedJuly 13,2024.
  24. ^"Past Officers".Hockey Canada.RetrievedApril 16,2018.
  25. ^Constitution, By-laws, Regulations, History.Gloucester, Ontario: Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. May 1990. pp.125–134.

Further reading

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