Editor’s note: The following story deals with sexual assault and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know needs help, those in Canada can find centres, crisis lines and services specific to each province. here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
London Police Services have received third-party reports regarding the investigation into an alleged group sexual assault by players of the 2018 World Junior Hockey Team, according to an article published Saturday in The Globe and Mail.
According to the Globe, the evidence in the reports comes from the investigation conducted by Danielle Robitaille of Toronto law firm Henein Hutchison Robitaille on behalf of Hockey Canada.
Among the evidence are interviews with “coaches, witnesses and accused players”, as well as “text messages, social media content and videos”, according to the Globe article written by Robyn Doolittle.
The Globe said the evidence was ordered by an Ontario judge.
This came after the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Parliament passed a motion on March 27 demanding that Hockey Canada provide the final report the governing body received from the investigation by law firm Henein Hutchison Robitaille.
The company’s investigation was initially launched in June 2018, but closed without reaching a conclusion in September 2020. In July 2022, Hockey Canada announced it was reopening the investigation after the alleged incident and subsequent payment undisclosed by Hockey Canada to a female was revealed.
In October, London Police Services filed a case with the Ontario Court of Justice saying they had reasonable grounds to believe that five members of the 2018 World Junior Hockey Team sexually assaulted a woman after a fundraising event.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and the players have denied any wrongdoing and claimed any sexual contact was consensual. No charges were laid.
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper { display: grid; grid-pattern-columns: repeat (2, 1fr); space: 20px; }
.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a { pointer-events: none; slider: default; text decoration: none; black color; }