ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Halifax to 'go ahead' with hosting world junior hockey championship

Share
HALIFAX -

Scandals within Hockey Canada won't prevent Halifax and Moncton from hosting the world junior hockey championship later this year, says the Halifax Regional Council.

"We're gonna go ahead and put these games — put this tournament on, we're gonna do a hell of a job as we always do," Mayor Mike Savage told a special council meeting late Tuesday, adding a note of caution that "last minute problems are always possible."

Hockey Canada has been rocked by allegations of sexual assault, which led to its leadership — CEO Scott Smith and the entire board of directors — stepping down Tuesday amid blistering criticism. Savage said last week that meaningful change was needed at Hockey Canada before the tournament could take place.

The national sports organization has been under fire since May, when it was revealed a settlement had been paid to a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of Canada's men's world junior team in 2018.

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

In an interview Wednesday, the Halifax mayor said the world juniors will be the first major tournament since the house cleaning at Hockey Canada.

"I think we've seen meaningful change," said Savage. "We don't know the whole story yet. We don't know who'll be on the board. We don't know who will be the CEO but I think this is a really important step. And I don't think there's any denying that it's a dramatic change and I think it's for the best."

Savage said a "high number" of tickets have been sold for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in December and January. The remaining tickets, he said remain with Hockey Canada "for things like potential sponsors."

"I think it's fair to say that the (International Ice Hockey Federation) does not want to cancel or move the tournament this year," he said.

"They've made a commitment to that. Their preference is to have this tournament. They know that Halifax can do this. They know that Moncton can do that. Can't foresee the unforeseeable."

It is the second time that Canada will host the world junior hockey championship within a span of four months.

The elite under-20 tournament will return to Atlantic Canada for the first time in 20 years. Halifax and Sydney, N.S., co-hosted the tournament in 2003.

The International Ice Hockey Federation needed to find a new location for upcoming event after stripping Russia of hosting privileges due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Halifax Coun. Tony Mancini said the games will bring a $50 million economic boost to the two cities with $35 million of it being in Nova Scotia.

The 2023 championship will kick off Dec. 26, just a few months after the 2022 edition, won by Canada, wrapped up in Edmonton. The tournament will run until Jan. 5, 2013.

A number of councillors voiced their support for changes at Hockey Canada but added that there needs to be more scrutiny.

Coun. Lisa Blackburn said Hockey Canada is in need of complete systemic change.

"Through their actions, they've taught these boys who are now men that it's OK to use women any way they want, and they'll be supported," she said.

"They've taught these boys through their actions … that it's OK to cover up that wrongdoing and bury it from scrutiny."

When the organization was given the opportunity for transparency at a parliamentary hearing, Blackburn said Hockey Canada instead chose to present themselves as "arrogant, tone deaf and their testimony reeked of hubris."

While the City of Halifax had a good relationship with Hockey Canada, Savage said the manner in which the allegations were handled was unacceptable and lacked accountability.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2022. 

CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.

Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.

Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.

Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.

A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.

The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.

Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.

Local Spotlight

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

A Good Samaritan in New Brunswick has replaced a man's stolen bottle cart so he can continue to collect cans and bottles in his Moncton neighbourhood.

Stay Connected