Hockey Canada revives Order of Hockey in Canada after 2022 pause
Calgary-based Hockey Canada is restarting its top honour for contributions to the sport, with a new nine-member committee set to pick three recipients a year.
Why it matters
Hockey Canada is headquartered in Calgary, and the award's revival marks a notable step since it paused following the 2018 world junior scandal.
Hockey Canada, headquartered in Calgary, announced it is reviving the Order of Hockey in Canada after a multi-year hiatus. A new nine-member selection committee, chaired by broadcaster and producer John Shannon, will choose three honourees annually based on their contributions to the growth and development of hockey in Canada.
Established in 2012, the award has recognized 36 individuals for their impact on the sport. The most recent class was inducted in June 2022, one month after sexual assault allegations involving members of Canada's 2018 world junior team became public. The Class of 2026 is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The committee includes four past recipients: retired players Jayna Hefford, Angela James and France St-Louis, and former NHL player Steve Yzerman. Other members are Shannon, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, Canadian para hockey captain Tyler McGregor, Own the Podium CEO Anne Merklinger and Bell Media Sports vice-president Shawn Redmond.
Hockey Canada president and CEO Katherine Henderson called the award's return an important initiative to celebrate individuals who have positively impacted the sport, while Shannon said the committee aims to humanize honourees' accomplishments for Canadians.
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