Former Canadian sport minister Pascale St-Onge believes that the intense scrutiny surrounding Hockey Canada’s handling of sexual assault allegations against members of the 2018 World Junior team may have aided the progress of the police investigation. St-Onge made the statement during a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Thursday. The allegations are currently being investigated by the London Police Service.
The news of the event initially surfaced in May 2022 after TSN reported that Hockey Canada had reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit initiated by the complainant. This disclosure sparked a series of events, including renewed investigations and widespread scrutiny of Hockey Canada, ultimately leading to the resignation of the entire board and leadership team.
Sport Minister Carla Qualtrough posted a statement on social media recognizing a safe sport crisis in Canada. She emphasized the need for accountability, integrity, and safety within the sport system, committing to embedding these principles in all aspects of her ministry’s work.
Greg Gilhooly, a Toronto-based lawyer and survivor of abuse by former hockey coach Graham James, expressed that the matter should have been addressed years ago. He believes that Hockey Canada’s actions hindered progress in addressing the issue and delayed justice.
The Globe and Mail reported that five members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors hockey team have been informed that they are facing charges related to an alleged group sexual assault in London, Ontario. The players have been given a specific timeframe to surrender themselves to the London police, although no charges have been formally filed at this stage.
Several players from the 2018 team, including Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Alex Formenton, have taken indefinite leaves of absence from their respective clubs. It is unclear whether these leaves are directly related to the recent report.
The London Police Service released a statement indicating their inability to comment on the Globe’s story but announced plans for a press conference on February 5 to provide further details.
Gilhooly stressed the need for allowing due legal process to unfold as the case progresses. He expressed concern that the issue should not be treated as entertainment and called for increased accountability within funding structures to ensure appropriate behavior from organizations.
Hockey Canada has yet to provide a statement regarding the recent report.
In April 2021, the federal government reinstated funding for Hockey Canada after suspending it in May 2022 following news of the settlement. The organization had to meet specific conditions, including becoming a signatory of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, to regain the funding.
Gilhooly cautioned that while Hockey Canada appeared to be taking positive steps, it was too soon to determine the effectiveness of their actions. He advised that assessing the impact of their measures would require observing the institution’s response during and after implemented changes.
The investigation into the alleged sexual assault involving members of the 2018 World Juniors hockey team is ongoing, and it is essential to allow the legal process to unfold. The recent events have brought increased attention to the issue of safety in Canadian sports and the need for greater accountability within the sport system.
