Hockey Canada to reopen investigation into alleged sexual assault

Hockey Canada will reopen a third-party investigation into the alleged sexual assault involving members of the 2018 world juniors team, it announced Thursday in an open letter that promised changes.

"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," the governing body said.

It added: "Reopening the investigation is a step towards addressing the disappointment so many feel about the outcome of the process we followed."

Hockey Canada encouraged players to participate in the previous probe, but not all of them did. Players must cooperate in the new investigation or face immediate bans from all Hockey Canada-related events.

After the investigation is complete, it will be referred to an independent panel of judges who will determine the consequences, which may include a lifetime ban from Hockey Canada.

The governing body also announced mandatory sexual violence training for all high-performance players, coaches, team staff, and volunteers. Hockey Canada will also undergo a full governance review and create a new confidential complaint mechanism.

The woman who said eight players assaulted her at a Hockey Canada-sanctioned event in London, Ontario, will participate in the renewed investigation of the incident, her lawyer confirmed to TSN's Rick Westhead.

None of the players involved were conclusively identified. A lawsuit was filed in April 2022 and settled the following month before reaching court.

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