Hayley Wickenheiser, four-time Olympic gold medallist and Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager, said Hockey Canada needs a leadership change.
, have pulled their sponsorship for the organization while its leadership continues to firmly reject the idea of stepping down., but instead, would take on “this responsibility for change.”“We need leadership that is going to be open minded, transparent and insightful. I think right now, there is a lack of insight into what the rest of the country is feeling about what’s going on.”
Wickenheiser said it’s taken a while for her to process the news after spending more than two decades working alongside the organization. But nevertheless, she said she knows one thing for sure. “Hockey in this country, regardless of what happens in the board rooms, it’s the grassroots, it’s the moms and dads, the volunteers, the Zambonis and cafeteria’s and the rink that keep hockey going,” she said.
“Regardless of what’s happening in the board rooms, the lights will always be on in rinks across this country, and hockey will go on. It’s much bigger than any person or organization.”