Hockey Canada CEO Bob Nicholson to step down in June
Since Hockey Canada's Chief Executive Officer Bob Nicholson stepped into the top job, and was charged with picking up the rubble left over from Canada's defeats at the 1996 World Cup and the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Canada has dominated the sport on the international stage; a golden era.
Nicholson was named CEO of Hockey Canada in 1998. Since then the Canadian men's hockey team has won three Olympic gold medals (2002, 2010, 2014), three World Championship golds (2003, 2004, 2007), and the 2004 World Cup. Meanwhile the women's program - of which Nicholson has been a staunch defender - has gone undefeated in Olympic play for the entirety of his tenure as CEO.
While the Nicholson era will be regarded fondly by Canadian hockey fans, it's an era that will soon come to a close. According to TSN reporter Darren Dreger, Nicholson is stepping down from his role as Hockey Canada's top executive.
Nicholson is due to step down as CEO on June 1st, and has reportedly identified this moment - one of relative strength and financially stability - as the appropriate time to relinquish the reigns.
Dreger suggests that Hockey Canada's search for Nicholson's replacement will include a multitude of different candidates, although the front-runner may already be in place internally:
There will be a large search for Nicholson's replacement. Hockey Can COO, Scott Smith could be frontrunner.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 3, 2014
Scott Smith has worked for Hockey Canada in a variety of capacities since 1997, and became the Chief Operating Officer for the organization in 2007.
Nicholson has confirmed his imminent departure to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston:
Bob Nicholson confirms he's stepping down from Hockey Canada by email, says he'll miss the "greatest job in hockey in the world."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 3, 2014