2018 Hockey Canada controversy and sexual assault

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In 2018, an alleged sexual assault took place involving members of the Canada men's national junior ice hockey team.

Incident[edit]

The 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships took place from December 26, 2017, to January 5, 2018. The gold winning Canadian team[1] then attended the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf event on June 18, 2018,[2] where shortly after, an alleged group assault in London, Ontario took place. Up to eight people were believed to have been involved, and police have reasonable grounds to believe that five members of the 2018 Canada World Juniors sexually assaulted an unnamed woman in a local hotel room.[2]

The allegations were made public in a complaint filed April 2022 in Ontario Superior Court where the complainant alleged that she was assaulted by eight players on June 19, 2018.[3][4] The lawsuit was filed against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), and eight unnamed CHL players. The complainant stated in the complaint that those involved were "players for, and members of the CHL and Hockey Canada, including but not limited to members of the Canada U20 Men's Junior Hockey Team".

According to the lawsuit, the woman first met the players at a bar in London, Ontario, where a player referred to as John Doe 1 bought her alcoholic drinks. The woman became more intoxicated and eventually went to a hotel with John Doe 1. Once in John Doe 1's hotel room, the two engaged in sexual acts, where after John Doe 1 invited the rest of the John Doe Defendants into the room without the Plaintiff's knowledge or consent. The Plaintiff claimed that over the next several hours, John Does 1–8 engaged in several sexual acts "which collectively constituted sexual abuse and assault."[5] In addition, the woman states that she could not give consent to any of the actions because of how intoxicated she was and that the group of eight (John Does 1–8) would not let her leave the room, despite multiple attempts by the victim.[5] Lawyers representing the players released text messages and videos to The Globe and Mail alleging that the woman consented to sexual acts with John Does 1–8.[6]

Investigation[edit]

The incident is currently under investigation by London police, Hockey Canada, and the National Hockey League (NHL).[7]

Though the Plaintiff claimed that Hockey Canada knew about the allegations and did nothing about them, according to a statement by Hockey Canada, they claimed they reported the allegations to the police and also hired a third-party investigative firm to conduct an independent probe.[2]

Two investigations, that conducted by the London police and the third-party law firm Henein Hutchison operating under direction of Hockey Canada, were launched a day after the alleged occurrence of the sexual assault. Both were closed months later with no charges filed. According to Danielle Robitaille, a partner with Henein Hutchinson, the investigation was initially closed because the complainant did not provide a statement. After the allegations became public in 2022, both investigations were reopened.[citation needed]

On July 26, 2022, a previously agreed upon non-disclosure agreement between the complainant and Hockey Canada was dropped. A day later, Hockey Canada's executives, headed by former Hockey Canada president Scott Smith, testified before a parliamentary committee as to the organization's handling of the alleged sexual assault case, which included questions about the NDA.[8]

In December 2022, Hockey Canada stated that it had received Henein Hutchinson's report but that it would remain private. However, on March 27, 2023, the House of Commons Heritage Committee unanimously passed a motion ordering the report to be handed over within 24 hours with an amendment from Liberal MP Chris Bittle to have the report redacted for privacy purposes.[3]

On January 24, 2024, The Globe and Mail citing unnamed sources, reported that five members of the team had been told to surrender to London police.[9] On January 28, Alex Formenton, who had been granted leave from HC Ambrì-Piotta, surrendered himself to London police.[10] On January 30, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault.[11]

Backlash[edit]

Media reports revealed Hockey Canada maintained a reserve fund called the National Equity Fund drawing on minor hockey membership fees that was partially used to settle sexual misconduct cases, causing a public uproar.[12]

Top sponsors, including Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Scotiabank, and Imperial Oil (which markets the Esso brand in Canada), withdrew support from the 2023 World Juniors and the entire 2022–23 season.[13][14]

The Canadian sports minister Pascale St-Onge[12] stripped Hockey Canada of federal funding and called for an audit of public funds, while Hockey Canada executives were questioned multiple times by parliament.[15] The audit commissioned by the federal government found that Hockey Canada did not use public funds to settle sexual assault cases or pay for related legal fees.[12]

Hockey Canada's response[edit]

Hockey Canada required all players to participate in its investigation into the alleged sexual assault and stated that those who do not will be banned from all Hockey Canada activities and programs immediately.[7] In addition, Hockey Canada disallowed all players from the 2018 World Juniors Men's team from competing in international competition until the investigation and adjudicative process of the alleged sexual assault has been completed.[3]

Additionally, the entire board of directors as well as president and CEO Scott Smith resigned in October 2022. On December 17, 2022, Hockey Canada elected a new board of directors.[16] The board will serve a special one-year term in order to focus on creating necessary change to improve the governance at Hockey Canada.[4] Since then, the newly installed board vowed to change the culture within the sport and the organization.[3] Katherine Henderson was named Hockey Canada's new president and CEO in October 2023.[17] Hockey Canada hired human rights leader Irfan Chaudhry as its first vice-president of diversity and inclusion.[18]

Depiction in media[edit]

The Fifth Estate's documentary, The Anatomy of a Scandal, was created using public statements by team members of the 2018 Canada World Juniors team from a variety of sources.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2018 IIHF World Junior Championship | Buffalo, New York". Team USA Hockey. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Murphy, Bryan (24 January 2024). "Hockey Canada scandal, explained: Police allege five members of 2018 World Juniors team of sexual assault". The Sporting News. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Boynton, Sean (27 March 2023). "Hockey Canada says 2018 world junior players barred from international competition". Global News. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b Strang, Katie; The Athletic staff (28 March 2023). "Canada's 2018 world junior players out for world championship". The Athletic. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Murphy, Bryan (21 July 2022). "Hockey Canada scandal, explained: Why the organization is reopening investigation into 2018 sexual assault lawsuit". The Sporting News. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  6. ^ Brady, Rachel (24 January 2024). "Five members of 2018 Canadian junior hockey team to face sexual assault charges". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Players from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team respond to investigation of alleged sexual assault". CBC News. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  8. ^ Burke, Ashley (8 August 2022). "Hockey Canada dropped non-disclosure agreement with sexual assault complainant". CBC News. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ Westhead, Rick (24 January 2024). "Five members of Canada's 2018 WJC team told to surrender to London Police". The Sports Network. Toronto, Ontario. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton Turns Himself In To London Police". Sportsnet. Toronto, Ontario. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Lawyers: Flames' Dube, Flyers' Hart, Devils' McLeod charged with sexual assault". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Federal audit finds Hockey Canada did not use public funds for legal settlements". CTV News. The Canadian Press. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  13. ^ Pereira, Ana (7 October 2022). "Bauer, Nike, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire. Here's a list of companies that have pulled Hockey Canada sponsorships amid sexual assault scandal". Toronto Star. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  14. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (29 June 2022). "Tim Hortons, Esso withdraw for world juniors in another blow for Hockey Canada". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Hockey Canada says 2018 junior players ineligible for international competition". CTV News. The Canadian Press. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  16. ^ "World junior hockey championship held in Canada in shadow of scandal". CTV News. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Katherine Henderson, Hockey Canada's new president and CEO, is in cleanup mode". Maclean's. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Hockey Canada hires human rights leader as first vice-president, diversity, inclusion". CTV News. The Canadian Press. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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