The Canadian Ice Hockey Federation is reopening an investigation into an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2018. According to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the union has a “real moment of reckoning”.
The handling of the ice hockey sex scandal in Canada continues as the Ice Hockey Federation reopened the investigation. Eight national team players under the age of 20 have allegedly committed sexual assault in 2018.
The case did not go to trial because it was settled out of court. This week it was revealed that the country’s Ice Hockey Association paid the settlement money from its own so-called national equity fund. The fund is maintained by membership fees. It tells about it, among other things Canada Information Agency (you will be transferred to another service).
The plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman at the time of the act, has reportedly demanded 3.5 million Canadian dollars (approx. 2.68 million euros) as compensation. The details of the settlement are not public, and the allegations have not been proven in court, The Canada Information Agency says (you will be redirected to another service).
– The ice hockey association must show transparency, responsibility and understanding of the situation it faces. The union has a real moment of reckoning, Trudeau said.
– The union’s behavior during the past years – and especially the last few months – has not been worthy of an organization that is the embodiment of young people’s hopes and dreams, sports and a healthy life.
The players deny that they participated in the incident
In the year of the alleged act, 2018, Canada’s under-20 team won the world championship. The youth team in question consisted of the age group born in 1998.
The team included, among others, the recent NHL champion, the defenseman of the Colorado Avalanche Cale Makarwho has denied his involvement and is “really willing to cooperate” at least with the investigation started by the NHL.
The most points scored by the St. Louis Blues in the completed season Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have informed that they are not involved in the case. Also the Nashville Predators Dante Fabbro and the Anaheim Ducks Max Comtois have denied their involvement.