Hockey Canada says players were not required to cooperate in 2018 sex assault probe – National

Junior hockey gamers who might have been concerned in an alleged sexual assault at a Hockey Canada occasion in 2018 weren’t required to cooperate in an investigation into the matter, the group’s high executives informed MPs Monday.

Outgoing CEO Tom Renney and president and COO Scott Smith, who will quickly be changing Renney as CEO, informed a Home of Commons committee that as an alternative gamers have been “inspired” to cooperate.

Due to that, the pair couldn’t definitively say what number of gamers participated, and gave wildly totally different solutions when pressed by lawmakers.

“I don’t know for positive, however due to the unfinished (investigation) report, there’s not rather more we’ve to supply by way of data alongside these strains,” Renney stated, after suggesting solely 4 to 6 gamers spoke to investigators.

“I consider the quantity is bigger than that, I simply don’t have that at my fingertips,” Smith added, after Renney referred to him for extra “definition” to his reply. “Nevertheless it positively wasn’t 4 to 6.”

The executives have been known as to testify after TSN reported Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit with a lady who accused eight Canadian Hockey League gamers, together with members of the 2018 nationwide junior group that gained world junior gold that 12 months, of sexual assault following a Hockey Canada Basis gala in London, Ont., in June of 2018.

Based on the assertion of declare, the lady claimed she was repeatedly assaulted whereas intoxicated in a resort room.

She filed a $3.55-million lawsuit in opposition to Hockey Canada, the CHL and the unnamed gamers. The lawsuit was settled, however no particulars of the settlement have been launched. The allegations in opposition to the gamers have been by no means confirmed in court docket.

The Canadian Heritage committee was tasked partially to make sure no taxpayer cash was used within the settlement. Authorities help accounts for six per cent of Hockey Canada’s funding, in accordance with the group’s 2020-21 annual report which didn’t specify how a lot cash that’s.

Renney stated Monday that no public funds have been used, whereas Smith stated a portion of Hockey Canada’s investments was liquidated to pay for the settlement, including authorities funding is stored separate from these accounts.

However the listening to shortly expanded to bigger questions of accountability and accountability.

Renney and Smith testified that Hockey Canada notified London police and a third-party investigator, Henein Hutchison LLP, inside hours of studying of the allegations from the lady’s stepfather the day after the incident is alleged to have taken place.

Each of these investigations have been suspended in September 2020, they added, and didn’t reveal the identities of the eight gamers alleged to have been concerned.

“That third occasion, nor the London Police Service, have been capable of verify who the accused have been,” Smith stated.

As a result of the lady didn’t want to converse to investigators or establish her alleged abusers, there was no additional effort made to establish the gamers concerned, the executives stated.

Renney’s estimation that solely 4 to 6 of the 19 junior group members have been recognized to have participated within the investigations drew a few of the most concern and a spotlight from committee members.

When pressed once more close to the top of his testimony, Smith amended the quantity once more to say he was “pretty assured” it was between 12 and 13.

“I believe the quantity Mr. Renney referred to was not essentially the quantity who did take part, however those that didn’t,” he stated.

Smith stated discussions are at the moment underway to vary the code of conduct in order that gamers may be compelled to take part in future investigations.

He and Renney pointed to the appointment of a director of secure sport and different steps the group is taking to enhance the tradition inside Hockey Canada. A few of these steps are direct responses to the alleged 2018 incident, together with a crackdown on underage consuming at public occasions and a strengthening of necessary sexual harassment coaching.

But Renney additionally admitted that “strains are blurred” between the conduct required by Hockey Canada of gamers throughout competitors and practices, and at public occasions just like the London gala — a divide the group is working to deal with.

MPs voiced concern that the gamers concerned should be taking part in on groups, together with within the Nationwide Hockey League, and will even turn out to be coaches in the future. The NHL has launched its personal investigation into the matter.

But Renney repeatedly prompt these gamers would solely face disciplinary motion if the lady have been to vary her stance and are available ahead with data that may establish them.

“I’m involved that if she actually needs to not be recognized, and at this time limit needs the gamers not be recognized, I actually don’t know what extra we will do alongside these strains,” he stated.

Renney stated as a result of the investigations are incomplete, a report they’ve acquired from Henein Hutchison on its findings can also be incomplete and couldn’t be launched, even when redacted, as it might be “speculative.”

Smith additionally wouldn’t say if a non-disclosure settlement is in place to guard the small print of the settlement, solely telling the committee they’re “lined by settlement privilege.”

But Sports activities Minister Pascale St-Onge later informed the committee that Renney had known as her on Could 24 — two days earlier than TSN’s report was launched — to alert her to the allegations, and {that a} NDA prevented him from giving any particulars concerning the settlement.

The committee has the facility to subpoena Hockey Canada for any paperwork associated to the investigations and the settlement, which might override solicitor-client privilege.

The executives additionally couldn’t present particulars of at the least two different separate energetic investigations into sexual assault allegations involving Hockey Canada gamers.

Smith estimated Hockey Canada sees between one to 2 allegations of sexual violence reported to management per 12 months over the previous 5 years.

“Let me be clear, only one is simply too many,” Smith stated.

“We actually have a difficulty. How widespread that subject is, I’m unsure. … If we’ve points like this within the sport, even when they’re restricted in scope or restricted in quantity, it’s a difficulty that’s essential for you and me and each Canadian, and it’s a difficulty that we have to eradicate from the sport.”

St-Onge informed the committee she didn’t have particulars of another sexual assault investigations.

She has ordered a monetary audit of the settlement, which Hockey Canada stated it would cooperate with.