The scandal involving players from the 2018 edition of Junior Team Canada (JCT) could see significant developments in the coming hours, as five of them have been advised to turn themselves in to the London police in order to facing sexual assault charges.
This was reported Wednesday morning in the newspaper The Globe and Mail, citing unspecified sources. Having been given a deadline to report to authorities, the athletes involved have not been identified.
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“We are unable to provide an update at this time,” London police told Sportsnet Tuesday evening. When there is further information to share regarding this investigation, we will be in contact with the media.”
However, the London authorities indicated in a press release that they will hold a press conference on this subject on February 5.
In June 2018, eight skaters allegedly gang-raped a woman in a hotel room in London, after a gala in that city highlighting the gold medal won by ÉCJ the previous winter. The victim subsequently filed a lawsuit, but everything was settled out of court with financial compensation of $3.55 million, thanks to a Hockey Canada reserve fund, which plunged the national federation into deep embarrassment. Moreover, several sponsors – including Nike, Tim Hortons and Imperial Oil – subsequently dropped the organization.
At the National Hockey League, an internal investigation was launched in May 2022, after the first revelations about ÉCJ 2018 by the TSN network. For their part, the London police were able to carry out their own research by obtaining approval from the Ontario provincial court, believing they had sufficient reason to believe that five members of the team committed a sexual assault, according to the Globe and Mail.
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Violence, intimidation and manipulation
Identified by the initials EM in the legal documents, the alleged victim mentioned in her request to the civil court that she had initiated and accepted sexual acts with one of the hockey players present at the hotel during the evening in question. However, seven other individuals later entered the room when the woman left the bathroom. She says she was raped, manipulated and intimidated despite multiple refusals, while being in tears and unable to leave the room.
Furthermore, two videos of the alleged acts were allegedly prepared by one of the players after the alleged events.
“The two videos made by player 1 were allegedly created according to EM to prevent her from going to the police,” said London police sergeant David Younan, as reported in December 2022 by the Globe and Mail. Player 1 even asked her if she wanted to go see the constables… and asked her to settle everything with the police.
“Good news”
Asked about the news on the sidelines of the CAQ caucus in Sherbrooke, the Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and the Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, said she was happy to see developments in this matter.
Marc-Andre Gagnon
“I would rather say that it is good news because it demonstrates that no one is above the law.
“Since I have been in office, then since I have been involved in security and integrity issues in sport, I have said how important it is to denounce and then to see that precisely, despite the fact that it may -be known names, that they will be called upon to suffer the consequences of their actions. So for me it’s good news.”
The minister also indicated that she believed this was proof that morals are changing.
“I think it’s changing,” said M.me Charest. Then, the denunciations cause mentalities to evolve. To see once again that there will possibly be results, it will also change mentalities and provoke denunciations. In any case, I am optimistic for the future.”
– With the collaboration of Marc-André Gagnon