Embattled Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Scott Smith says his organization will fulfill its duty as host at next month's world junior hockey tournament in Edmonton.

Smith spoke to reporters Wednesday after being questioned by MPs, some of whom called for a change of leadership at Hockey Canada, at a parliamentary hearing looking into the hockey governing body's handling of recent sexual assault allegations.

Hockey Canada has been under fire since news broke in May of an alleged sexual assault involving eight players after a 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont.

A second sexual assault allegation involving the 2003 world junior team surfaced last week.

Hockey Canada paid out $8.9 million in sexual abuse settlements since 1989

Hockey Canada executives told a House of Commons committee Wednesday that they've paid $8.9 million for sexual abuse settlements to 21 complainants since 1989.

Witnesses Scott Smith, Hockey Canada President and Chief Operating Officer, left, and Hockey Canada Chief Financial Officer Brian Cairo, appear at the standing committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, looking into how Hockey Canada handled allegations of sexual assault and a subsequent lawsuit.

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Hockey Canada officials revealed the organization has paid out nearly $9 million in settlements since 1989 to 21 people alleging sexual misconduct.

Hockey Canada has paid 21 settlements for sexual misconduct since 1989

Edmonton hosting rescheduled world juniors, Red Deer awarded Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Edmonton will be the sole host of the 2022 men's world junior hockey championship and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup will be held in Red Deer, Alta., this summer.

The world junior hockey championship will return to Edmonton this summer after the 2022 tournament was cancelled in December when COVID-19 outbreaks sidelined several teams.

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Smith noted that the world junior championship is operated by the International Ice Hockey Federation, not Hockey Canada, and that the event will go on as planned.

The 2022 world junior tournament initially got underway in December in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., before being postponed due to an outbreak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Hockey Canada has paid out $7.6M in sexual abuse settlements since 1989

Canada's Connor Bedard is seen above during the world juniors in December. The tournament is still slated to begin over in Edmonton in August, Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith said on Wednesday.

Embattled Hockey Canada head says world juniors will go on as planned

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