One scandal doesn’t wait for another at Hockey Canada. In addition to the gang rape that allegedly occurred in an event sponsored by the federation in 2018, we now learn that a group sexual assault also occurred in 2003 and involved members of the 2002-2003 junior national team.
Posted at 12:45 p.m.
Hockey Canada issued a statement about the matter Friday noon, saying it was made aware of the allegations Thursday evening in an email sent by TSN reporter Rick Westhead. This would have reported “disturbing revelations”, indicates the organization.
“Mr. Westhead told Hockey Canada that he spoke to multiple witnesses who provided him with explicit descriptions of the assault following an interview with Conservative MP John Nater, who has the same or similar information,” says -your.
Hockey Canada also reveals that, two weeks prior to Mr. Westhead’s email, some of its members “got wind of a rumor about ‘something bad happening at the 2003 World Juniors’, but no further information. “.
The organization mentions having notified Sport Canada at this time and having retained the services of an independent investigator. “He had not been able to find out more when we received Mr. Westhead’s email,” he notes, however.
“We asked Mr. Westhead to contact the police immediately and to invite his sources to do the same,” he added. We also urge MP Nater to contact the authorities to convey to them the information that he or his office has received regarding these allegations of group sexual assault. »
Upon receiving Rick Westhead’s email on Thursday evening, Hockey Canada said it “immediately” contacted the Halifax Regional Police Service, the city that was co-host of the 2003 World Junior Championship. information given to him.
“We believe that the police authorities must investigate what happened in 2003 and ask them to open an investigation into this disturbing situation. Hockey Canada will cooperate with the authorities in every way possible. »
As it has done a few times recently, Hockey Canada says it is “committed to ending the culture of silence that plagues hockey.” “This is why we publicly implore anyone with information about this case to contact the police authorities,” adds the organization.
He also invites “anyone who feels or has felt a victim of abuse, sexual violence, harassment or mistreatment by anyone affiliated with the organization” to contact him via the Helpline. of Canadian sport. It is a free, anonymous, confidential and independent service.
At the 2003 World Championship, the Canadian team won the silver medal after losing in the final against Russia.
On Friday afternoon, the NHL released a brief statement saying it was made aware earlier in the day of the “horrifying” allegations against members of the 2002-03 National Junior Team. The league will “review” these allegations and respond to them in an “appropriate” manner, the missive reads.
Second scandal
Remember that Hockey Canada has already found itself, since the end of May, in the midst of a scandal surrounding the 2018 national junior team. In June 2018, after a drunken party in a bar in London, Ontario, eight hockey players allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman in a hotel room.
The suspects were all players playing in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), but not necessarily members of the national team. The victim filed a civil lawsuit last April against Hockey Canada, the suspects and the CHL. Hockey Canada quickly reached an amicable settlement and has since come under fire for its handling of the file.