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Canadian Hockey Association

Canadian Hockey Players Face Uncertain Futures Amidst Sex Assault Probe

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Five former Canadian world junior hockey players face the prospect of exclusion from the National Hockey League and Hockey Canada's top levels, or a ban from playing for Canada again, after being charged with sexual assault in a 2018 case. The players' futures hang in the balance as the league and national organization await the outcome of the trial, having conducted parallel investigations that remain shrouded in secrecy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The five accused players have been charged with sexual assault following a 2018 celebratory gala in London, Ont.
  • Both the National Hockey League and Hockey Canada conducted parallel investigations, which remain confidential, and will make determinations on the players' futures after the trial.
  • The players could face exclusion from the NHL and Hockey Canada's top levels or a ban from playing for Canada again, depending on the outcome of the investigations.
  • Hockey Canada's safe sport regime, which requires a balance of probabilities to prove culpability, could impose sanctions on the accused players regardless of the trial's outcome.
  • The CCES took over responsibility for administering the safe sport file, outlined in the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, in April.
  • Expert Hilary Findlay advises that sports organizations should hold off on their own inquiries until after the police probe to avoid contaminating the criminal investigation.
  • The London Police Service and Ms. Robitaille reopened their investigations after a public outcry in July 2022.
  • Hockey Canada threatened a lifetime ban on any player who didn't speak to Ms. Robitaille, highlighting the complexities of the safe sport regime.

Statistics:

  • February 2024: Police laid charges against the five former Canadian world junior hockey players.
  • 2018: The alleged incident took place during a celebratory gala in London, Ont.
  • 2019: Police determined there were insufficient grounds to continue their probe.
  • 2020: Ms. Robitaille shut down her inquiry after failing to secure an interview with the complainant.
  • 2022: The London Police Service and Ms. Robitaille reopened their investigations.
  • 2022: Hockey Canada suspended the entire 2018 world junior team.
  • 2023: The NHL concluded its investigation, but the results were not made public.
  • 2023: An independent adjudicative panel heard a hearing on the matter but was appealed.
  • 2024: A new arm's-length panel was commissioned to hear the appeal.

Sources:

  • Staff, "Canadian Hockey Players Face Uncertain Futures Amidst Sex Assault Probe", the Globe and Mail, Thursday.
  • Hilary Findlay, quoted in the article, is a retired associate professor of sports management at Brock University.
  • Signy Arnason, quoted in the article, is the executive director of safe sport for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.
  • Taylor McKee, quoted in the article, is the director of the Centre for Sport Capacity at Brock University.
  • Justice Bruce Thomas, quoted in the article, made a ruling on a pretrial motion.
  • The Globe and Mail, quoted in the article, published an interview with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
  • Danielle Robitaille, quoted in the article, is the lawyer hired by Hockey Canada for an independent investigation.

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