Hockey Canada Reopens Investigation into Alleged Sexual Assault

Hockey Canada has said in an open letter that they are reopening the investigation into an alleged sexual assault featuring members of the 2018 World Junior Championship team.

Hockey Canada has said in an open letter that they are reopening the investigation into an alleged sexual assault featuring members of the 2018 World Junior Championship team.

A lawsuit was filed in May that stated that eight unnamed CHL players sexually assaulted a woman in June of 2018 in London, Ontario. The group included members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Championship team.

According to the statement of claim that was filed this past April, the woman claimed she was repeatedly assaulted while intoxicated in a hotel room. No details of the settlement have been released.

The woman did not speak to investigators or identify the alleged abusers and the case was not heard in court. The lawsuit was settled in May of 2022.

Hockey Canada came under fire earlier this year after the investigation came to light, with Hockey Canada not making it mandatory for players to take part in a third-party investigation. 

Last month, new Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith testified on Parliament Hill that "12 or 13" players were interviewed as part of the investigation that closed in Sept. 2020.

Hockey Canada is making it mandatory for any players involved in the team to take part or be banned from all of the federation's programs.

"We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 national junior team or to end the culture of toxic behaviour within our game," Hockey Canada wrote in its letter Thursday. "For that we unreservedly apologize."

Hockey Canada will now require mandatory sexual violence and consent training for members taking part in national team programs. 

“What happened in London, Ontario in 2018 was completely unacceptable and we once again apologize to Canadians, the young woman, and all those who have been impacted,” Hockey Canada wrote.

Hockey Canada also will conduct a full review of its organization with an independent third-party expert.