Hockey Canada reopening investigation into 2018 sexual assault

Trigger warning: this article discusses sexual assault.

Hockey Canada announced Thursday it is reopening the investigation into the sexual assault allegations involving members of the 2017-18 Canadian world junior team.

According to ‘An Open Letter to Canadians,’ released by Hockey Canada Thursday, the organization will be requiring all players on that roster to participate in the investigation. If players do not comply, they will be banned from all Hockey Canada programs and activities.

“We have heard from Canadians, players, their families, fans, sponsors and those impacted by what occurred in 2018. We know you are angry and disappointed in Hockey Canada – rightfully so,” the governing hockey body said in the letter. “We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 National Junior Team or to end the culture of toxic behavior within our game. For that, we unreservedly apologize.”

Hockey Canada also outlined several immediate changes that are coming into effect right away. Not only will it be requiring full participation, but it has also pledged that all staff members, players, management and volunteers must partake in mandatory sexual violence and consent training. Furthermore, Hockey Canada will have a third-party expert conduct a “full governance review” to “ensure our governance is geared to the requirements of a national organization of our scope and influence.”

The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) will be overseeing all complaints, concerns, and allegations within Hockey Canada. It will also be creating a confidential channel for individuals to step forward with complaints – including, as it said, “those historical in nature.”

The investigation will then be seen by an independent panel of current and former judges to determine appropriate consequences which “may include a lifetime ban from Hockey Canada, on and off the ice.”

Back in April, a woman, who wishes to remain anonymous and accuses John Does 1-8 in the official statement, filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the CHL, and eight unnamed CHL players. She stated she was sexually assaulted in 2018 following a Hockey Canada gala event, in London, Ontario. The lawsuit, which never made it to court was settled in May.

Following the testimony, Canada’s minister of sport Pascale St-Onge announced that the federal government would be freezing $7.8 million of Hockey Canada’s budget until it signed on with the OSIC as well as disclosed the recommendations of improvement made by Heinen Hutchison.

Major corporate sponsors, such as Scotiabank, Telus, Canadian Tire, Imperial Oil, Tim Hortons and others, have demanded change and paused their sponsorship campaigns slated to run during the upcoming 2022 World Juniors in August.

“What happened in London, Ontario in 2018 was completely unacceptable,” Hockey Canada’s letter reiterated, “and we once again apologize to Canadians, the young woman, and all those who have been impacted.”