Hockey Canada executives were under fire by lawmakers on Monday about their handling of an alleged sexual assault four years ago, which resulted in a settled lawsuit last month.
The announcement was made in an open letter to Canadians that it would reopen an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of members of the country’s 2018 world junior team.
Who Was The Woman In The Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Case?
Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by members of the team. However, the identity of the women was not revealed and none of the accusations have been proven in court.
After news of the alleged incident broke, Smith and Hockey Canada’s outgoing CEO Tom Renney were detained by federal authorities in Ottawa. The CEO and president were called to testify before Ottawa’s Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
Likewise, the federal government decided to halt funding for the national organization as they were not convinced by some of the interviews. As authorities investigated the situation, a number of companies followed suit and pulled their sponsorships from the organization.
In response to that, Hockey Canada stated in its letters that they recognize that many of the actions taken by them should have been carried out sooner and faster. They are accepting the fault and claim that they will do better to meet their responsibilities to Canadians.
In response to the allegations, Hockey Canada stated that all players, coaches, and volunteers in its high-performance program must complete sexual assault and consent training.
Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Players And Other Parties Involved
The woman claimed that eight players, including members of the national junior team, sexually assaulted her after a Hockey Canada gala in 2018.
She filed a lawsuit in April against the organization, the CHL, and eight players, but she did not name them. Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit in May.
According to The Athletic Katie Strang, the said woman stated that she met John Doe 1 at a bar and then went to his hotel room where they engaged in sexual acts. Then, John Doe 1 invited the remaining John Doe defendants into the room without the plaintiff’s knowledge or consent.
Furthermore, she also mentioned that the group committed acts that “amounted to sexual abuse and assault as a whole.”
According to the open letter, Hockey Canada contacted law enforcement after learning about the incident. This investigation will continue to be led by an independent third party, and all players will be required to participate.
How Much Did Hockey Canada Have To Pay For The Settlement?
The woman who made the allegation is seeking approximately $3.55 million in damages. She also pursued legal action against the other parties involved, including the Canadian Hockey League.
Once the investigation is completed, which will be conducted by the same Toronto law firm that was hired in 2018, it will be referred to an independent adjudicative panel of current and former judges, who will determine the appropriate consequences, which could include a lifetime ban from all Hockey Canada activities, on and off the ice.
Last month, Sports Minister St-Onge stated that the government would only restore funding to the national organization after receiving an official third-party report.
Moreover, Hockey Canada said in a letter we recognize that we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 national junior team or to end the toxic culture within our game.
He also added we sincerely apologize and recognize that more needs to be done to address the behaviors, both on and off the ice, that contradict what Canadians want hockey to be and undermine the many positive things that the game brings to our country.
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