Hockey Canada, London police announce reviews in wake of sex assault allegations

Hockey Canada is facing more scrutiny in the aftermath of a sexual assault scandal that has rocked the country’s leading hockey organization, even as the police force that investigated the 2018 incident undertakes a review of its own actions in the case.

The new developments in the saga emerged Wednesday, as Hockey Canada announced it would submit to a governance review by a third party — and that it would no longer use a discretionary fund to settle sexual misconduct complaints.

The last two weeks have seen intense pressure ramp up on Hockey Canada after corporate sponsors and the government pulled funding, fans have reacted in disgust and advocates have called for structural change after decades of sexual assaults in the sport.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week that he thought it was “hard for anyone in Canada to have faith or trust in anyone at Hockey Canada.

“What we’re learning … is absolutely unacceptable.”

Some are calling for the entire board of the organization to step down.

In a statement Wednesday, Hockey Canada announced that a governance review of the organization will be conducted by an independent third party following months of scandal over an alleged sexual assault in 2018 involving members of the country’s world junior hockey team in London, Ont.

Hockey Canada’s review would include the National Equity Fund, which Hockey Canada said in its statement would “no longer be used to settle sexual assault claims” — something it has been heavily criticized for doing this week.

The National Equity Fund will now see its fund used only for “safety, wellness and equity initiatives, as well as insurance across our organization,” the organization said. This means player counselling and treatment, concussion research, criminal records checks of Hockey Canada staff, charitable donations, and support for players with physical injuries.

Meanwhile, the London Police Service said an internal review of a sexual assault investigation that took place in 2018 would also be conducted.

“Following the governance review, we will take any additional steps that are recommended,” said Hockey Canada.

“Should the review determine that a fund to support victims of sexual assault is required, as is common in other sporting organizations, we will ensure all claims are subject to the approval of an independent third-party.”

Kristi Allain, an associate professor of sociology at St. Thomas University in Fredericton who studies men’s hockey culture, said the Hockey Canada board should simply resign.

“I don’t see how the board is competent or capable, given the decision-making processes they’ve made to date, of seeing this through successfully,” she said.

Allain said that the devil will be in the details when it comes to the governance review. It needs to be done by a “truly third party” and not someone invested in the sport like a former player or a fan, Allain said.

The statement from Hockey Canada did not name who would be carrying out the governance review, but Allain said it should be people “who can be critical of hockey and hockey culture, people who are have been excluded, who are outside of hockey culture.”

Last week, Hockey Canada took other steps after facing widespread criticism for its handling of sexual assault allegations, and a loss of funding. It said it would restart a third-party investigation into an alleged sexual assault that took place in a London hotel involving members of the country’s world junior team. Participation of players would be mandatory, which wasn’t the case before.

Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith, who took on the role July 1, testified on Parliament Hill before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage last month that “12 or 13” players were interviewed before the original, incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020.

London’s police chief, Steve Williams, also announced Wednesday that an internal review would be carried out on a 2018 sexual assault investigation that took place in relation to an incident at a hotel there.

“I am aware of the significant public interest surrounding an investigation completed by the London Police Service in 2018,” he said.

“A lengthy and detailed investigation took place, and in February of 2019, it was concluded with no criminal charges laid.”

Williams said the review was being launched to see “what, if any, additional investigative avenues may exist.”

Independent researchers have long called for a complete upheaval of hockey culture in Canada after decades of sexual assault cases. The latest scandal has sparked a fierce public outcry and demands that Canada’s most popular sport change its culture.

Hockey Canada has been submerged in controversy since May, when reports came out about a lawsuit — filed by a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight hockey players, including members of the 2018 world junior team — being settled quietly.

Players have spoken out about the scandal and distanced themselves from it. The Star has also reached out to agents or lawyers for each player on the 2018 team.

JP Barry, the agent for Dante Fabbro and Brett Howden, sent the Star’s Kevin McGran an email on Wednesday, saying Fabbro “has already stated previously on the record he had no involvement,” and he added a statement from Howden:

“I had absolutely no interaction, verbally or physically, with the complainant, which I explained fully to the Hockey Canada investigator. There has never been any suggestion that I am accused of any wrongdoing in the matter, but given the blanket condemnation of the players on that team in the media, I want to make it publicly very clear that I was not involved. I will of course co-operate in the NHL investigation as I did in the Hockey Canada investigation.”

There have been more than a dozen other players from the team of 22 who have come forward this week to make statements. Players have either said they’re innocent, that they’ll co-operate with the investigation or that they weren’t at the event.

With files from The Canadian Press

Kieran Leavitt is an Edmonton-based political reporter for the Toronto Star. Follow him on Twitter: @kieranleavitt”