Hockey Canada’s CEO Katherine Genderson says the sport is entering a positive new chapter as she works to strengthen culture and prepare the country for a landmark Olympic year. Two years into her tenure, she is at the centre of one of the most pivotal periods in the organization’s history. She is working hard to rebuild trust while creating excitement around women’s hockey and the return of NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympics rink.
Henderson has been devoted to community sport all her life. She stepped into the role as CEO during a turbulent time when the organization faced intense public backlash after allegations of sexual assault were launched against five players from the 2018 men’s world junior team.
The players were acquitted in July and are free to return to the NHL; however, Hockey Canada’s independent investigation is still ongoing, and the five are not able to participate in Hockey Canada programs. Henderson has declined to comment on the trial or adjudication, but it is clear she is attempting to restore confidence in the sport and positively change the culture of Canadian hockey.
“I think there’s a recognition that there are some dark places in hockey culture that we collectively as Canadians have to take ownership of, and we are doing quite a bit of work on that at Hockey Canada,” she says. “We’ve all got to work together to make sure the game stays great.”
At the same time, sport in Canada, including hockey, remain popular with citizens. The country has a deep-rooted history with winter sports and is heading into the Olympic year with a lot of excitement. There remains a positive fan culture, which extends beyond simply viewing the games. It also includes sports betting, and sportsbooks in Canada offer regulated betting with good odds and live updates. Many fans are expected to place bets on the outcomes of Olympic games, and are keeping an eye on hockey matches leading up to the event to gain insights into smart wagers.
But there is still a lot of work to be done for Hockey Canada. In her first two years as CEO, Hockey Canada has introduced new integrity measures, improved screening processes, and training focused on sexual assault, harassment, consent, and discrimination. Earlier this year, Henderson said, “I do think we’ve done a very good job of making sure that people are quite aware of what those behaviours are. I think we can probably continue to look to improve upon that to make sure that actual behavioural changes [are] coming out of those programs.”
Hockey has not lost momentum, with registrations continuing to rise, especially among women and girls. Over 115,000 females registered in the 2024-25 season.
Henderson previously led Curling Canada and contributed to pay equity and newcomer engagement programs in the sport. She now hopes to reach more communities in Canada and introduce them to a sport she calls “a super enjoyable part of my life”.
The next few years will put her vision to the test as Canada hosts five international women’s championships between 2026 and 2030.
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are around the corner, and Hockey Canada recently revealed its new Olympic and Paralympic uniforms. These feature a multi-tone maple lead designed to resemble an “unbreakable diamond” to show the resilience of the athletes. At the launch, Henderson said of the jerseys: “These Olympic and Paralympic jerseys perfectly reflect Canadian hockey and the passion Canadian fans bring when cheering on our athletes.”
