Skinner appointed interim board chair at Hockey Canada

Toronto lawyer Andrea Skinner has been appointed interim chair of Hockey Canada's board of directors.

Skinner is the first woman to hold the position in the organization's history. She takes over for Michael Brind'Amour, who resigned last week.

Hockey Canada is under the public and governmental microscope for its handling of sexual assault allegations against members of past junior men's hockey teams.

The federal government has frozen funding to Hockey Canada until it meets several conditions, including a plan to change its culture.

Hockey Canada has appointed former Supreme Court of Canada judge Thomas Cromwell to review its governance.

The national governing body's 13 provincial, regional and territorial associations recommended Skinner step in as interim chair until the current board's term ends in November, Hockey Canada said Tuesday in a statement.

“Since 1914, Hockey Canada has been the organization that Canadians have trusted to lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences. Recent events have called that trust into question,” Hockey Canada said.

Skinner was first elected to the board in 2020. She played four years of women's college hockey at Cornell.

“As a board we are listening to Canadians,” Skinner said. “We are working to make meaningful positive changes to the culture of the sport of hockey.