Andrea Skinner has submitted her resignation as the interim chair of Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 board of directors.

The embattled national sports organization confirmed SkinnerB次元官网网址檚 intention to resign both as chair and as a member of the board on Saturday night. Her imminent departure from Hockey Canada comes after more corporate sponsors and provincial organizations withdrew their support from the national body.

Skinner joined Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 board of directors in November 2020 as a volunteer. She assumed the role of interim chair in August after Michael BrindB次元官网网址橝mour resigned from the role after he drew widespread criticism for his handling of allegations of a gang rape involving the 2018 menB次元官网网址檚 junior national team.

B次元官网网址淚 am grateful to the Members of Hockey Canada for electing me to the Board of Directors and providing me with the opportunity to make positive change for our game and for Hockey Canada,B次元官网网址� said Skinner in a statement released by the organization Saturday.

Hockey Canada has been under fire since May, when it was revealed an undisclosed settlement had been paid to a woman who alleged in a $3.55-million lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight players B次元官网网址� including members of the countryB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 world junior team B次元官网网址� after a 2018 gala in London, Ont.

Allegations of gang sexual assault involving the 2003 world junior team emerged in July.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

As government officials and media investigated Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 handling of the 2018 allegations it was discovered that the governing body had maintained two separate funds to pay off sexual assault settlements. Player registration fees B次元官网网址� mainly from children B次元官网网址� had been the source of the two funds.

The federal government has suspended its funding of Hockey Canada in the aftermath of the allegations and several of its biggest sponsors have paused or ended their relationship with the national sport body.

Skinner vigorously defended Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 executives earlier this week when she appeared via video before members of Parliament alongside BrindB次元官网网址橝mour in a Canadian Heritage standing committee meeting in Ottawa.

She insisted hockey shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be made a B次元官网网址渟capegoatB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址渃entrepieceB次元官网网址� for toxic culture that exists elsewhere in society, and referenced politicians who have been accused of sexual misconduct during the Tuesday hearing.

The fallout from Skinner and BrindB次元官网网址橝mourB次元官网网址檚 testimony was nearly immediate.

Nike suspended its support for Hockey Canada on Friday. Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 other three premier partners B次元官网网址� Tim Hortons, Esso and Telus B次元官网网址� have also suspended support for hockeyB次元官网网址檚 governing body.

Provincial governing organizations for amateur hockey also began to withhold their player fees from Hockey Canada following TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 hearing.

Hockey N.L. became the latest provincial body to withhold its fees. That organization said in a statement posted Friday to its website it will not be submitting its $3-per-player participant fee to Hockey Canada while the national governing body is under independent review.

Hockey New Brunswick also said Friday it would withhold the fees, following similar moves by provincial hockey federations in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

B次元官网网址淯pon reflection, it is clear to me from recent events that it no longer makes sense for me to continue to volunteer my time as Interim Chair or as a Director of the organization,B次元官网网址� wrote Skinner in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 statement.

Skinner, a Toronto lawyer, said she has been B次元官网网址済ratifiedB次元官网网址� for the opportunity to work with people in the organization, B次元官网网址渄espite recent challenges.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 sincerely appreciate the support I have received from many Canadians, particularly women, who also seek to positively influence the game and sport,B次元官网网址� said Skinner.

At TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 parliamentary committee meeting Skinner and BrindB次元官网网址橝mour were questioned why Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Scott Smith had not been fired.

B次元官网网址淥ur board frankly does not share the view that senior leadership should be replaced on the basis of what we consider to be substantial misinformation and an unduly cynical attacks,B次元官网网址� Skinner had said.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 sports minister Pascale St-Onge, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and victims rights advocate Sheldon Kennedy have said current Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 current leadership must quit to allow for culture change in the organization, and to regain public trust.

Trudeau suggested on Thursday that a new national governing body for hockey may have to be created to replace Hockey Canada.

B次元官网网址淭here needs to be wholesale change, they need to do it, they need to realize that if we have to create an organization B次元官网网址� get rid of Hockey Canada B次元官网网址� and create an organization called Canada Hockey instead, people will look at doing that,B次元官网网址� Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

B次元官网网址淭here is a lack of understanding that they have lost the confidence of Canadians. The sooner they get to that, the better it will be for everyone.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� With files from Jessica Smith.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press

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