Hockey Canada's latest report on tracking maltreatment in sanctioned hockey found a jump in discrimination-related penalties and complaints in 2022-23 compared to the season before.
Hockey Canada's latest report on tracking maltreatment in sanctioned hockey found a jump in discrimination-related penalties and complaints in 2022-23 compared to the season before.
Hockey Canada saw a massive increase in reports made in their 2022-2023 tracking period as the organization continues to examine “all instances of maltreatment, including abuse, discrimination and harassment in sanctioned hockey programs across the country.”
On Thursday, Hockey Canada released national results from data collected during the 2022-2023 season through new independent complaint systems, as well as officials calling all rules in Section 11 of Hockey Canada’s rules.
The Tracking Maltreatment in Sanctioned Hockey report showed a spike, jumping to 913 calls assessed by officials under Hockey Canada's discrimination rule from 512 in 2021-22. There were another 711 reported allegations in 2022-23 compared to 415 the season before.
Hockey Canada also saw 1,872 complaints made through the related independent third-party system. An additional 25 complaints related to ice hockey were made to the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, one of which is pending jurisdiction.
According to the report, Hockey Canada attributes this spike to a number of variables, “including but not limited to greater awareness around Section 11 of the Hockey Canada Rule Book due to promotional efforts made by Hockey Canada and its Members to educate and support officials, players and coaches, and improved reporting processes.”
This report is critical in Hockey Canada's efforts to identify and act against egregious behaviors in the sport in collaboration with its member branches across the country, said Natasha Johnston, vice-president of sport safety for Hockey Canada.
“With our Members, we are committed to expanding reporting on maltreatment in sanctioned hockey during the 2023-24 season as well as working to prevent and address maltreatment behaviors in sanctioned hockey programming,” Johnston said in a news release. “As we continue to build greater awareness and facilitate greater opportunities and trust for individuals to come forward, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in maltreatment incidences being reported on and off the ice.”
The public release of this data is part of Hockey Canada’s new safety frameworks and promise to participants and Canadians of transparency related to harassment and abuse.
These changes were sparked by investigations into an alleged 2018 gang sexual assault involving members of Hockey Canada’s World Junior team. That investigation led to discoveries of slush funds used to pay settlements and shortcomings in the policy and procedure followed by Hockey Canada members following allegations of violence and abuse.
From the report, of the 1,872 complaints made to the independent third party, only 187 were accepted. Of the complaints made, 35.3 percent dealt with bullying and harassment, 34.1 percent dealt with discrimination, five percent related to sexual maltreatment, 3.7 percent to physical abuse and 2.2 percent to an alleged abuse of power.
Related to allegations of discrimination, most penalties related to sex/gender-based discrimination, followed by disability and race.
“Hockey Canada is committed to ensuring greater safety and inclusion in hockey by identifying and addressing systemic issues in and around Canada’s game,” the report said. “Hockey can and should play a positive role in contributing to our communities, but when harmful behavior takes place, the consequences are negative for the health and safety of those involved.”
To conclude the report, Hockey Canada listed 10 initiatives the governing body intends to continue or implement in the 2023-2024 season and beyond “to prevent and address maltreatment behaviors in its sanctioned programming.”
Among those items were an implementation strategy for 2022’s new gender expression and equity policy, addressing the 13 objectives defined in their equity, diversity and inclusion path forward, education and implementation support related to policies, templates and tools they are developing, and continued and improved tracking of maltreatment reports.