Luc Tardif watched from afar as Hockey Canada lurched ahead in a scandal-plagued 2022.

After meeting with its new board of directors B次元官网网址� a diverse group that better reflects the countryB次元官网网址檚 makeup B次元官网网址� the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation believes the future is bright at the badly damaged organization.

Speaking ahead of the final day of competition at the world junior hockey championship, Tardif said he met face-to-face with board chair Hugh Fraser and the eight directors who were elected last month.

He came away optimistic.

B次元官网网址淭hose people who were named are perfectly able to redress the situation,B次元官网网址� the Quebec-born Tardif said at a Thursday press conference inside Scotiabank Centre. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have to throw the baby (out) with the bathwater. There is something still good for ice hockey, but we have to correct.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 confident about the new board, the new chairman, and we have to give them a chance.B次元官网网址�

The previous board resigned in October B次元官网网址� president and CEO Scott Smith exited the same day B次元官网网址� in the wake of the federationB次元官网网址檚 botched handling of alleged sexual assaults and millions in hushed payments to victims using its little-known National Equity Fund (NEF).

Hockey Canada saw its funding shut off by the federal government, while a number of sponsors have pulled dollars since May when it was revealed a woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight players B次元官网网址� including members of the 2018 world junior team B次元官网网址� following a foundation gala in London, Ont., 4 1/2 years ago.

Hockey Canada and the woman quietly settled a $3.55-million lawsuit out of court.

The organization then announced members of the 2003 menB次元官网网址檚 world junior roster B次元官网网址� the last time Halifax hosted B次元官网网址� were being investigated for a group sexual assault.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

A series of disastrous heritage committee meetings on Parliament Hill saw Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 leadership grilled by MPs, eventually leading to the boardB次元官网网址檚 resignation and SmithB次元官网网址檚 departure.

That came before the release of an independent governance review that made a number of recommendations related to leadership, transparency and how the NEF B次元官网网址� maintained by registration fees and used to pay uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims B次元官网网址� and two other funds should be managed.

Hockey Canada, which is in the process of hiring a new CEO now that the new board is in place, has also developed an B次元官网网址渁ction planB次元官网网址� to tackle the sportB次元官网网址檚 toxic culture.

B次元官网网址淭he position of IIHF about what happened in this country is clear,B次元官网网址� said Tardif, whoB次元官网网址檚 awaiting the results of multiple investigations, including by police in London. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e following that closely.B次元官网网址�

Tardif added that moving the 2023 world juniors out of Russia B次元官网网址� due to the war in Ukraine B次元官网网址� to Halifax and Moncton, N.B., instead of larger Canadian markets that have given the event a lukewarm reception in recent years was the correct call.

B次元官网网址淭here is a spirit,B次元官网网址� Tardif said. B次元官网网址淲e saw that the two communities were a little bit more involved in that tournament. You feel the tournament everywhere in Moncton in Halifax.

B次元官网网址淭hat was the best medicine for Canadian hockey and international hockey after this difficult year.B次元官网网址�

Dean McIntosh, Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 vice-president of events and properties, said the organization wasnB次元官网网址檛 fixated on the financial side of these world juniors with so many sponsors jumping ship.

B次元官网网址淥ur focus has really been on, B次元官网网址楬ow do we bring a great product back to Canadians?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat has been a challenge as it relates to our sponsors.

B次元官网网址淲e think weB次元官网网址檝e made positive steps over the last few months.B次元官网网址�

Tardif felt the same.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 damage, but now we have to try to see how we can work,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲e have to give them a chance to change.B次元官网网址�

TARDIF ON NHL, OLYMPICS

Tardif wants a decision on the NHLB次元官网网址檚 participation at the 2026 Olympics by the spring of 2024.

B次元官网网址淚t give us two years to prepare properly (for) this competition,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 optimistic, but everybody has to do an effort to be there.

B次元官网网址淵ou need to have the same rules as the other athletes. We are not a travel agency. We organize a competition.B次元官网网址�

The NHL pulled the plug on the 2022 Games in Beijing because of COVID-19 concerns and hasnB次元官网网址檛 participated on the sporting worldB次元官网网址檚 biggest stage since 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

B次元官网网址淚f we discussed directly with the players B次元官网网址� the players want to go B次元官网网址� we would find a way,B次元官网网址� Tardif said. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 more complicated than that.B次元官网网址�

WORLD CUP TIMING

Tardif said the IIHF isnB次元官网网址檛 a fan of the reimagined World Cup of Hockey being played in February because of the impact on European leagues and how close it would be to the menB次元官网网址檚 world championships in May.

The NHL hoped the World Cup would return in 2024, but it now wonB次元官网网址檛 happen until the following year B次元官网网址� at the earliest B次元官网网址� because of the war in Ukraine and RussiaB次元官网网址檚 banishment from international play.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a big problem for us,B次元官网网址� Tardif said of a winter event. B次元官网网址淲e prefer August, September, October.B次元官网网址�

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Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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