A sworn statement filed in an Ontario lawsuit appears to indicate that Hockey Canada held a reserve fund to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault claims.
This information is included in a July 2021 affidavit signed by Glen McCurdie, who was then vice-president of insurance and risk management at Hockey Canada, in a lawsuit filed by an injured player in Ontario.
“Hockey Canada maintains a reserve in a separate account to pay for uninsured liabilities as they arise,” said McCurdie’s written statement. He goes on to say that “uninsured liabilities include potential claims for past sexual assaults.”
Hockey Canada did not immediately respond to an email in which The Canadian Press sought comment on the statement.
Sexual assault allegations
The sports federation has been at the center of a controversy since last May, sparked when the existence of an out-of-court settlement linked to an alleged sexual assault case emerged. The events allegedly took place at a gala held in 2018 in London, Ont., and involved eight unnamed players, including members of that year’s junior team. None of these allegations have yet been proven in court.
The organization’s CEO, Scott Smith, and his immediate predecessor, Tom Renney, were challenged by parliamentarians last month at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage about the case — and where the settlement funds. Glen McCurdie, who retired in December, did not attend proceedings due to the death of his father, but was called by the committee for an upcoming round of meetings beginning next Tuesday.
Hockey Canada was stripped of its federal funding due to its handling of the case and the settlement; several companies have also suspended their sponsorships.
The organization released a carefully crafted open letter on Thursday containing a number of promises, including a commitment to reopen an independent investigation into the alleged assault.
“We know that our response has been insufficient to the actions of some members of the 2018 National Junior Team, or even to end the culture of toxic behavior within our sport,” Hockey Canada wrote in the three-page document. . “We are sincerely sorry. »
More details
Scott Smith, who succeeded Tom Renney as CEO on 1er July, told the Standing Committee on Heritage last month that Hockey Canada had reported three sexual assault complaints in recent years, including the London incident, but would not discuss the other two.
He added that there have been up to two sexual misconduct complaints in each of the past five or six years.
Smith also told the committee that “12 or 13” of the team’s 19 players were interviewed prior to the initial and incomplete investigation, which concluded in September 2020.
The alleged victim of the assault was seeking $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and Players Anonymous. The lady’s attorney said in an email last week that his client, who did not participate in the initial investigation or speak to police, “will participate in Hockey Canada’s investigation and will not make any media comments at this time”.
Conor Timmins of the Arizona Coyotes, who was part of the 2018 junior national team, has denied any involvement in the alleged sexual assault.
“No one is claiming that I was there or that I was involved,” he said in a statement from his agency, Quartexx Hockey. I am not aware of what happened. I cooperated fully with Hockey Canada’s initial investigation and will continue to do so in any further investigation.”
Victor Mete of the Toronto Maple Leafs denied any involvement last month, as did Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.