OTTAWA – Former Supreme Court judge Thomas Cromwell said it's apparent a "serious effort" was made to improve diversity, gender balance and range of experience on Hockey Canada's board of directors.
Nine candidates — five women and four men — have been named to fill the vacant board seats at the national sport organization.
Hockey Canada's provincial and territorial members will hold a Saturday vote on whether to accept or reject the entire slate of nominees.
Cromwell, who made a remote appearance at a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage meeting Tuesday in Ottawa, said it appears the nominating committee "tried extremely hard" to recruit the sort of board with the profile he recommended.
Cromwell headed an independent review into Hockey Canada's governance. He concluded the federation was at a "crossroads" and called for more oversight and accountability.
The previous board stepped down in October as part of the fallout from the scandal-plagued federation's past handling of sexual assault allegations and hushed payouts to victims.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, talking to reporters after the board of governors meeting wrapped, said the league's investigation into the 2018 incident is in the "home stretch." Previously, Bettman said on Oct. 18 that the investigation was closer to the end than the beginning.
--with files from Sportsnet staff
