Hockey Canada reopens investigation into alleged 2018 sexual assault
Hockey Canada made a series of announcements Thursday in an open letter to Canadians, including the reopening of a third-party investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving members of the country's 2018 world junior team.The national federation said participation in the investigation by the players in question is mandatory, adding that anyone who declines will be banned from all federation activities and programs effective immediately. It previously said it "strongly encouraged" players take part in the investigation into the alleged incident, which occurred at a Hockey Canada function in London, Ontario. Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith, who took on the role July 1 and has held various jobs at the federation since 1995, testified last month that 12 or 13 of the 19 players from the team were interviewed before the original, incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020. The NHL is also conducting an investigation because some of the players are now in the league. Hockey Canada said it will now require players, coaches, team staff and volunteers associated with its high-performance program to participate in mandatory sexual violence and consent training. The woman who made the assault allegation was seeking $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unnamed players.
Hockey Canada made aware of 'group sexual assault' allegations involving members of 2002-03 world junior team
Hockey Canada released a statement Friday saying it has been made aware of an "alleged group sexual assault" involving members of its 2002-03 national junior team during the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Hockey Canada said it has "urged" Westhead to speak with police and for his sources to do the same. The governing body also requested Nater contact authorities with any information his office has received about the alleged assault. Hockey Canada ended the missive saying that it believes the allegations should be investigated by authorities and that Hockey Canada will cooperate fully.
Hockey Canada releases plan with centralized tracking and reporting system for abuse complaints
Hockey Canada released a plan on Monday to combat the "toxic" culture in its sport. It comes ahead of a second round of parliamentary hearings into the organization's handling of sexual assault complaints.The plan includes putting together a centralized tracking and reporting system for abuse complaints by the end of September, the results of which will be published annually to "hold Hockey Canada accountable." Hockey Canada did not say what data on the complaints will be made public in the report, but historical allegations of sexual assault will not be included. Hockey Canada also says it will implement enhanced screening for high-performance players -- "considering their behavior and track record outside of their time with Hockey Canada and outside of the rink." Breaching the organization's code of conduct or refusing to participate in an investigation could result in a lifetime ban.
Jordin Tootoo the third member of Canada's 2003 men's world junior hockey team to deny involvement in alleged group sexual assault
Jordan Tootoo and Nathan Paetsch denied any involvement in an alleged group sex assault while with Canada's 2003 world junior hockey team.Tootoo, who was a member of the silver-medal winning team and played 13 seasons in the NHL with Nashville, Detroit, New Jersey and Chicago, issued a statement Saturday calling for a full investigation into the "disturbing allegations." "I don't recall knowing or hearing about the incident in question during or after the tournament," Tootoo wrote on Twitter. "I was shocked when I heard about it in the media and will cooperate fully with any investigation."
Former Vancouver Canucks F Jake Virtanen found not guilty of sex assault
A jury on Tuesday found former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen not guilty of sexual assault after a week of salacious testimony. Virtanen was charged in January with sexual assault in connection with an incident in a downtown Vancouver hotel room in September 2017. The 23-year-old woman testified that she repeatedly said "no" and told Virtanen that she did not want to have sex with him before he pinned her to the hotel bed with his body.
Gary Bettman: NHL won't interfere, influence Hockey Canada inquiry
The NHL will not release its finding from a yearlong investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a woman by multiple players from the 2018 Canadian world junior hockey team until ongoing judicial proceedings have been completed by London, Ontario, police. Philadelphia Flyersgoalie Carter Hart, New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, and former Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton (who has been playing in Switzerland) have all stepped away from their teams over the past week,
Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters Friday that the NHL had concluded its investigatory process and was prepared to share information with the NHL Players' Association when news came down last week that police in London -- where the alleged assault took place in June 2018 -- were charging five current or former NHL players with involvement in the case. Bettman said the NHL did not know ahead of time that police would be asking those players to surrender, nor would Bettman confirm the identities of the players in question, except to say it "appeared" they were no longer with their respective clubs.
Bettman did acknowledge that the four players under NHL contract will continue to be paid. Hart, McLeod, Foote and Dube will all be free agents after this season. Bettman said he would be "surprised" if any player returned to his team while the investigation was ongoing, but the commissioner did not anticipate the players being suspended without pay regardless of what happens at Monday's news conference. Both Hockey Canada and the London police were informed of the alleged incident in June 2018.
Police: New evidence reopened Hockey Canada sex assault case
The London Police Service cited a discovery of new evidence for reopening an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving five players from Canada's 2018 World Junior hockey team. Chief Thai Truong and Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann of the LPS's Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section met with the media Monday to provide details on where the case stands after charges were formally laid nearly six years after the original complaint in June 2018. "Upon review of the [initial] occurrence, it was determined that there were additional steps that could be taken to advance the investigation," Dann said. "When the case was reopened in 2022, our team explored investigative opportunities in addition to the [original] team investigation. Those leads were followed, and additional witnesses were spoken to, and we collected more evidence."
Police: New evidence reopened Hockey Canada sex assault case
The London Police Service cited a discovery of new evidence for reopening an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving five players from Canada's 2018 World Junior hockey team. Chief Thai Truong and Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann of the LPS's Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section met with the media Monday to provide details on where the case stands after charges were formally laid nearly six years after the original complaint in June 2018. The woman subsequently filed a $3.55 million lawsuit in April 2022 against Hockey Canada and eight players she said to be involved; Hockey Canada quickly reached an out-of-court settlement with the woman, details of which were never made public.
'New evidence' emerged from 2018 sex assault case involving Canada hockey players, prompting arrests, charges, police say
The five former and current NHL players who have been charged have all denied the allegations.
New evidence about an alleged 2018 sexual assault prompted authorities to reopen an investigation involving one former and four current NHL players, Ontario police said Monday. The athletes were arrested and chargedl last week. Officials have not disclosed additional details about the new evidence. The Philadelphia Flyers’ Carter Hart, the New Jersey Devils’ Cal Foote and Michael McLeod and the Calgary Flames’ Dillon Dubé, all 25, and ex-NHL player Alex Formenton, 24, made their first court appearances over video call Monday morning, according to the Ontario court docket. Hart, Foote, Dubé and Formenton each face one count of sexual assault. McLeod faces two counts, sexual assault and being “a party to the offense,” which refers to aiding or abetting others in carrying out an unlawful action. All five have denied the allegations through their lawyers.
Ex-Hockey Canada players granted trial for assault charges
The five former members of Hockey Canada's 2018 World Junior championship team facing charges for allegedly sexually assaulting and attacking a woman had their request granted Tuesday for a trial by jury. Dillion Dube, Cai Foote, Alex Formwnton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod will be tried together, The Globe and Mail reported. No trial date has been set, and all five players -- who are all current or former NHL players -- have maintained their innocence. The case will now move to superior court, rather than provincial court.
A relative of the woman reported what happened to Hockey Canada the next day. An initial investigation by London police into the matter was closed in February 2019 without any charges. It was later revealed that the woman had filed a $3.55 million lawsuit against eight players, the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada that was settled by Hockey Canadian in March 2022. The London police eventually reopened their investigation, culminating in the charges being brought in January.
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