Ex-hockey player Jordin Tootoo said he doesn’t recall learning or hearing rumors of a gang rape involving multiple Canada junior players in 2003.
Posted at 1:36 p.m.
Updated at 2:35 p.m.
Tootoo has become the third player to deny involvement in an alleged gang rape that allegedly occurred during the World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax in 2003.
The Halifax Police Department has launched an investigation to shed light on this incident which allegedly happened 19 years ago. Tootoo, who was part of that team that won the silver medal, issued a statement on Saturday calling for a full investigation to be launched to shed light on the “disturbing allegations”.
“I don’t recall learning or hearing any rumors about this incident during or after the tournament,” Tootoo wrote on Twitter. I was shocked to read what had happened in the media and I will fully cooperate with the investigators. »
Carlo Colaiacovo and former Montreal Canadiens player Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau also denied their involvement, and reiterated their ignorance about this alleged wrongdoing.
Tootoo added that he will cooperate with the Halifax Police Department in their investigation of the incident.
He also admitted in a statement posted on Twitter that he suffered from an alcohol problem at the time.
Hockey Canada says it learned of a gang rape involving some 2003 players on Thursday, and said it immediately alerted Sport Canada and the Halifax Police Department to the allegations.
In 2015, Tootoo wrote in his biography titled All The Wayin which he notably discusses his experience with Junior Team Canada, that his team was made up of “twitchy young men”.
“It wasn’t just a relationship between two people,” Tootoo wrote in his biography. Some guys would pick a few girls after practice and then head to one of the hotel rooms. Enough said. »
Tootoo admitted on Saturday that his biography is partly about the sexual exploits of his team, but he also admitted that he suffered from a problem with alcoholism at the time. It is in this context that he swears that he never learned or heard rumors about a gang rape.
Funding and commercial partnerships with some Hockey Canada sponsors have been suspended following allegations of sexual assault involving eight members of the Junior Team Canada in 2018.
The allegations made headlines after media reported that Hockey Canada had reached a settlement with an alleged victim who sued the organization, the Canadian Hockey League, and the eight unidentified players. This woman coveted 3.55 million in damages.
On Wednesday, London, Ont., Police Service Chief Steve Williams ordered a review of his service’s initial investigation launched in June 2018 to shed light on the sexual assault allegations. He said Friday that, following a review, the London Police Service would relaunch its investigation.
The Canadian Press reported Monday that Hockey Canada has developed a fund, funded by fees paid to minor hockey associations, to cover uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims. Hockey Canada confirmed the existence of the fund on Tuesday, and added that it will no longer be used to cover sexual abuse claims.