Hockey Canada grilled over alleged sexual assault, settlement

Hockey Canada executives had been below hearth Monday as parliamentarians grilled the group over its dealing with of an alleged sexual assault 4 years in the past that resulted in a settled lawsuit final month.

Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney and president Scott Smith had been among the many witnesses referred to as to testify earlier than the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa.

Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit in Might after a girl claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight members of the nation’s 2018 world junior hockey staff at a gala occasion in June of that yr.

The plaintiff, recognized as “E.M.” in court docket information, claimed she was repeatedly assaulted whereas intoxicated in a London, Ont., resort room after a Hockey Canada occasion. The lady, now 24, was searching for $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unnamed gamers.

Smith, who’s set to take over for the outgoing Renney as CEO on July 1, informed the committee that members of the nation’s gold-medal successful world junior staff had been “strongly inspired” to talk with third-party investigators employed by Hockey Canada.

It was not, nevertheless, made necessary.

“Mr. Smith, if you would like actual accountability from Hockey Canada, it’s best to have demanded all gamers take part within the interviews (with the skin regulation agency),” Conservative MP Kevin Waugh stated. “You personal that that’s unacceptable.”

Smith, who can be the nationwide sport physique’s COO, responded by saying that Hockey Canada “borrows” gamers from different leagues for worldwide competitions.

“We have made some modifications to our code of conduct,” he stated. “We’re having discussions proper now as as to if or not we are able to strengthen the power to compel gamers that we borrow to take part in investigations concerning what occurs below our care.”

Bloc Quebecois MP Sebastien Lemire advised in French that Hockey Canada play with out its emblem for a yr “so that folks will take into consideration this concern tradition in Hockey Canada and the duty that you’ve. I imagine that (Hockey Canada is) John Doe No. 9 on this case.”

Renney stated Hockey Canada first realized of the alleged incident the next morning — June 19, 2018 — when the lady’s stepfather contacted its human assets division, and that police in London had been knowledgeable that night.

Smith stated although it took 4 years for the story to return out, and solely after TSN was first to report the main points final month, there wasn’t a coverup.

“The police had been notified, we engaged a third-party investigator, we notified Sport Canada, and we supplied assist to the younger lady,” he stated. “That is not a sign of sweeping one thing below the rug.”

Particulars of the settlement with the lady haven’t been launched, however Smith stated the gamers alleged to be concerned didn’t contribute financially and no authorities cash was used.

Not one of the allegations towards the gamers have been confirmed in court docket.

Smith was requested if the settlement is roofed by a non-disclosure settlement.

“The minutes of settlement are lined below settlement privilege,” he replied.

Hockey Canada added it has but to determine the gamers alleged to have sexually assaulted a girl as a result of its investigation is incomplete.

Smith stated 12 to 13 gamers took half within the investigation initiated by the game’s governing physique. Renney stated earlier Monday that it was his perception the quantity was between 4 and 6.

Smith was requested if any coaches or trainers had been concerned within the alleged incident.

“I do not imagine so,” he stated. “However I can not affirm.”

Hockey Canada has stated the lady selected to not converse with police or its unbiased investigator. Smith and Renney reiterated Monday the lady additionally elected to not determine the gamers.

Smith stated London police knowledgeable Hockey Canada its felony investigation was closed as of February 2019. Hockey Canada, in the meantime, saved its personal investigation open via September 2020.

“Lots of people are taking the allegations within the assertion of declare as reality,” Smith stated. “The problem that we had is thru intensive efforts over a 26-month interval, we weren’t in a position to affirm what occurred that night.”

The NHL, in the meantime, is within the technique of conducting its personal investigation as a result of quite a lot of gamers from that world junior staff at the moment are within the league, whereas Canada’s sports activities minister ordered a forensic audit of Hockey Canada.

Pascale St-Onge informed the committee Monday after the Hockey Canada executives testified that she first realized of the alleged assault and settlement when Renney referred to as her two days earlier than TSN’s report.

“I used to be completely outraged with what I learn,” St-Onge informed the committee in French. “And as all Canadians, I requested myself questions on the accountability of the gamers and the explanation why Hockey Canada would attain an out-of-court settlement?”

Authorities cash accounts for six per cent of Hockey Canada’s funding, in line with the group’s 2020-21 annual report, though the quantity in precise {dollars} wasn’t specified.

Hockey Canada acquired a complete of $7.8 million in Personal The Podium high-performance funding for its males’s and girls’s nationwide groups within the 4 years between the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

“Nobody has been held accountable,” Conservative MP John Nater stated of the alleged assault. “Nobody misplaced the privilege of carrying the Maple Leaf on their jersey I’ve heard zero tolerance talked about at the moment. I want that was true.

“But when there’s really a zero-tolerance scenario each single participant who was in London that weekend ought to have been mandated to take part in that overview or lose the chance and the privilege of being related to Hockey Canada.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 20, 2022.