Hockey Canada's independent nomination committee will select eight directors and a new board chair from more than 550 applicants instead of putting candidates up for a wider vote, according to a letter sent to provincial and territorial members.
In the document dated Thursday, the committee said it is "hard at work" and "very encouraged" by the resumes received from Canadians hoping to head the sport's national organization after a scandal-filled six months that led to the departure of president and CEO Scott Smith and the resignation of the entire board in October.
But the letter added the committee is making "very hard choices" to pare down the list to just nine names that will be put forward to members ahead of the board vote set for Dec. 17.
Nomination committee chair Mike Bruni told The Canadian Press in an email that the 13 provincial and territorial members under Hockey Canada's umbrella authorized the format, adding the vote will be for the entire slate — not individual candidates.
Bruni, a Calgary-based lawyer, said with a "very thorough vetting and interview process" and assistance from an outside management consulting firm, the committee is "fully confident" in the process.
Hockey Canada has faced intense scrutiny since May when it was revealed the organization quietly settled a lawsuit after a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of the country's world junior team, after a 2018 gala in London, Ont. Since then, allegations of another group sexual assault emerged surrounding the 2003 world junior team for an incident in Halifax.
