Hockey Sask. could withhold fees if Hockey Canada doesn’t make ‘meaningful changes’

Amid the continued fallout from Hockey Canada’s handling of sexual assault allegations, Hockey Saskatchewan said it will consider withholding participant fees unless it sees action by the national organization.

Hockey Saskatchewan posted a new statement Friday night.

In the statement, the organization said it acknowledges there are very serious issues in hockey and much work is needed to improve the culture. The statement said the organization is committed to making the game safer.

Hockey Saskatchewan said it is working with partners to hold Hockey Canada accountable. The organization wants action and answers by specific deadlines, in order to ensure “meaningful changes to our game.”

Those changes include bringing in new educational resources to help prevent sexual misconduct and other forms of maltreatment.

“A lack of action by Hockey Canada may lead to Hockey Saskatchewan taking additional steps which may include withholding participant fees,” the statement read.

The group also made an apparent response to comments Hockey Canada’s interim board chair made as she was testifying earlier in the week in front of a parliamentary committee.

When asked about leadership changes, Andrea Skinner said she believed that would have a negative impact to all boys and girls playing hockey, and she insinuated rinks around the country may not be able to keep the lights on if the leadership team is removed from Hockey Canada.

“Rinks are busy, hockey is being played across the province, and for that, we are thankful. That is not going to stop regardless of what is happening at the national level,” the final few lines of Hockey Saskatchewan’s statement read.

Earlier this week, Hockey Saskatchewan sent out a statement to parents, which defended one of the two funds Hockey Canada is reported by the Globe and Mail to have used to settle matters including but not limited to sexual abuse.

It made no mention of sex abuse allegations.

Several other provincial hockey bodies have already announced they will take similar action by withholding fees.