Editor’s note: The following story is about sexual assault and can be distressing to some readers.
If you or someone you know needs support, those in Canada can find province-specific centers, crisis lines, and services here. For readers in the United States, here is a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones.
Hockey Canada reopens its investigation into the 2018 sexual assault allegations with members of the 2017-18 Canadian World Junior Team, the organization announced Thursday.
The organization will require all players on this list to participate in the investigation, which will continue to be led by an independent third party. According to Thursday’s announcement, non-cooperating players will be banned from all Hockey Canada activities and programs.
“We’ve heard from Canadians, players, their families, fans, sponsors and those affected by what happened in 2018. We know you’re angry and disappointed with Hockey Canada, rightly so,” the statement says, titled An Open Letter to Canadians. released early Thursday. “We know we haven’t done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 Youth Team, or to end the culture of toxic behavior within our game.
“That’s why we apologize unreservedly.”
In the letter, Hockey Canada also outlined several immediate changes it is making as a result of the allegations that were made public in May. In addition to reopening research and requiring the full participation of all players, Hockey Canada is also committed to requiring all players, coaches, staff members and volunteers participating in high-performance programs to participate in mandatory training on sexual violence and consent, and it will. conduct a “complete government review” of the organization by an external expert to “ensure that our government conforms to the requirements of a national organization within our reach and influence”.
Hockey Canada is also signing with the Office of the Commissioner of Sports Integrity (OSIC), a new, specialized organization that will oversee all complaints, concerns and allegations within the Hockey Canada Authority; and is creating a confidential and independent channel for people to move forward with complaints, including, as they point out, “those of a historical nature.” This channel will direct all complaints at the national programming level to the OSIC.
Once completed, Hockey Canada’s reopened investigation will be seen by an independent tribunal of current and former judges to determine the appropriate consequences, which “may include a lifelong ban on Hockey Canada activity, inside and outside the gel “.
Hockey Canada also said they “recognize the courage of the young woman involved and respect her decision to participate in the investigation the way she wants.”
In April, a woman filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and eight anonymous CHL players claiming she was sexually assaulted in London, Ont. hotel room after a Canada Hockey gala event in June 2018. The woman, who chose not to take part in the investigations opened by the London Police and Hockey Canada, wants to remain anonymous and not named the alleged perpetrators, who are known as John Does 1. -8 in the official statement of claim. The lawsuit was settled in May. The case has not been seen in court.
Hockey Canada’s handling of the charges, as well as its finances, have been in the spotlight ever since, with the federal government holding hearings and corporations freezing sponsorships for the upcoming junior world tournament.
In a statement released shortly after the allegations came to light, Hockey Canada said it reported the allegations to police and hired a third-party company, Henein Hutchison LLP, to conduct an investigation.
Former Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney, who resigned on July 1 (a decision unrelated to the allegations, according to Sportsnet sources), and president and chief operating officer Scott Smith told Federal Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage during an investigation on June 20 that they had not done so. knowing who the John Does were and their third-party investigation was incomplete. They said players were “strongly encouraged” to participate in third-party research, but that it was not mandatory, with only “12 or 13” players participating before the investigation closed in September 2020.
Sports Minister of Canada Pascale St-Onge, dissatisfied with the actions taken by Hockey Canada, announced shortly after the testimony that the federal funding directed to the organization, about $ 7.8 million annually, representing the six per cent of Hockey Canada’s budget, will be frozen. until you get started with the OSIC, as well as reveal the improvement recommendations made by Heinen Hutchison and provide details of your plan to implement the change.
Corporate sponsors, led by Scotiabank and including TELUS, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Imperial Oil (Esso) and others, also stopped the sponsorship executions that had been planned for the next World Juniors in August, demanding a change in the organization.
Hockey Canada said Thursday that a more detailed action plan is being prepared.
“What happened in London, Ontario in 2018, was completely unacceptable,” he continued, “and we apologize again to the Canadians, the young woman and all those who have been affected.”