Hockey Canada tabs Katherine Henderson as CEO, president

Hockey Canada has a new leader.

The organization tabbed Katherine Henderson as its CEO and president Tuesday to succeed Scott Smith, who resigned in October.

Henderson spent the last seven years as CEO of Curling Canada. She'll begin her new role with Hockey Canada on Sept. 4.

"Katherine has the track record and experience to lead the ongoing transformation of Hockey Canada," Hugh L. Fraser, the chair of Hockey Canada's board of directors, said.

"With her at the helm, we are confident that we will continue to take the steps necessary to ensure hockey is a safe and inclusive sport and that Hockey Canada benefits from best-in-class governance."

Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny since last spring in the wake of two sexual assault scandals.

A woman said eight unnamed CHL players - including members of the 2018 world junior team - assaulted her in June of that year following a Hockey Canada gala event in London, Ontario. She sued the organization and it settled the lawsuit in May 2022.

Last July, Hockey Canada reported an alleged group sexual assault from 2003 involving members of that year's national junior team. The organization said it first heard of a rumor about "something bad at the 2003 world juniors" two weeks prior to reporting it.

Hockey Canada then unveiled an action plan to address "systemic issues" and "toxic behavior" within the sport as a result of those allegations.

The Canadian government froze the organization's federal funding in June 2022, and several longtime sponsors pulled their support from the organization. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for "wholesale change" within Hockey Canada in October.

Smith and Hockey Canada's entire board of directors stepped down later in October.

Hockey Canada introduced its new board of directors in December.

During her time with Curling Canada, Henderson was credited with advocating for pay equity for the men's and women's teams, as well as orchestrating a financial turnaround for the organization's business model.

Bauer Hockey announced it would reinstate its partnership with Hockey Canada shortly after news broke of Henderson's appointment, according to CBC's Devin Heroux. The company paused its equipment arrangement with the men's world junior team last year.

The Canadian federal government restored Hockey Canada's funding in April.