The fallout from Hockey Canada's decision to settle a lawsuit that included members of the 2018 World Junior Championship continues. One major sponsor, Scotiabank, wrote an open letter to Hockey Canada stating that it would withdraw all sponsorship money from the World Junior Championships until the organization takes steps to "improve the culture within the sport," both on and off the ice.
Scotiabank said in its letter that it was cancelling all marketing and events for the upcoming 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship in August, and redirecting that money to the Hockey Canada Assistance Fund, which helps those with financial barriers to getting into hockey, as well as the Women's World Championship and the Canadian Women's Foundation, which supports women who have experienced gender-based violence.
Just last month, Hockey Canada revealed that it had settled a lawsuit with a woman who claimed she was assaulted at a Hockey Canada event after the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships. The lawsuit claimed that the eight people involved in the assault were members of the Canadian Hockey League, and some were members of the 2018 WJC gold medal team. No names were ever mentioned.
Last week, the Canadian government announced a freeze on millions of dollars in federal funding to Hockey Canada until the organization partners with a new federal agency with the power to receive and investigate complaints of abuse and impose sanctions.