Calls grow for change, critics say ‘silence is deafening’ on World Juniors case | 24CA News
Canada’s Sport Minister Carla Qualtrough says the present sport system shouldn’t be defending kids or holding sports activities leaders to account.
Her feedback comply with the news that 5 skilled hockey gamers who have been members of the 2018 Canadian World Juniors group have been charged with sexual assault, and as critics of the hockey world’s dealing with of the allegations say that “silence is deafening.”
“Our current sports system is not protecting our children and other participants, nor is it holding sports leaders to account. Broad changes to the sports system and sports culture in Canada are needed to address this crisis,” Qualtrough stated in an announcement to Global News. “We need to address the negative, inappropriate, and dangerous behaviour that has been normalized in our dressing rooms, on our benches, and in our stands.”
The minister pointed to some work lately that has been finished, such because the creation of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner however concluded by saying there’s way more to do.
Four NHL gamers, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote have been granted leaves from their respective groups final week. A fifth member of the 2018 group, Alex Formenton, was additionally granted a go away from his group in Switzerland. They have all since been charged with sexual assault, linked to allegations of a bunch sexual assault at a resort in London throughout a Hockey Canada gala in June 2018. The alleged sufferer was 20 on the time of the incident.
Lawyers for all 5 gamers say that they deny the allegations.
News of the fees has amplified questions raised over current years concerning the tradition of hockey and what will be finished to make that and different sports activities safer, in addition to spurred scrutiny of how these in positions of energy in sports activities organizations have dealt with allegations towards athletes.
When Dube’s go away was introduced, the Calgary Flames stated it was for psychological well being causes.
On Jan. 30, after the fees have been introduced, the Flames issued an announcement saying they’re taking the matter significantly however can’t remark additional because of the authorized course of.
“We had no knowledge of pending charges at the time Dillon’s request for a leave of absence was granted,” the Flames’ assertion concluded.
Global News reached out to the Philadelphia Flyers for remark concerning the cost towards Hart and the New Jersey Devils for touch upon McLeod and Foote.
A consultant from the Devils replied they’re conscious of the fees and that they have been instructed to refer all inquiries about these costs to the NHL itself.
“We will respond appropriately to this very serious matter when the outcomes of the investigations are made public. The NHL has been very clear that teams should refer all investigation-related questions to them. In the meantime, members of the organization, including Flyers players, will not be commenting further,” Flyers spokesperson Joseph Siville replied.
When Global News reached out to the NHL for an announcement on the 4 gamers being charged with sexual assault, spokesperson John Dellapina replied “not at this time… thanks for reaching out.”
“Silence is deafening”
Amid the elevated concentrate on creating protected sport environments following the revelation of those allegations, Toronto-based lawyer Greg Gilhooly says the league is confronted with two avenues to reply to the allegations towards these gamers.
“The league could either show leadership or it could remain silent behind the legal proceeding. The league is choosing to ‘turtle,’ in hockey parlance. It doesn’t want the fight. It wants to let anybody but the league deal with this if at all possible,” Gilhooly stated.
Gilhooly is a former hockey participant himself, and a survivor of disgraced coach Graham James who was convicted of sexually assaulting gamers, together with former NHLers Sheldon Kennedy and Theo Fleury.
In May 2022, the NHL introduced they might look into “underlying facts” linked to a lawsuit across the 2018 Team Canada allegations and potential participant involvement.
“Now that there’s a formal legal process, the league, whatever investigation it did and whatever it found out, can say that it is not prepared to release the findings of its investigation in the midst of the formal legal process,” Gilhooly stated.
Amelia Cline, with the protected sport advocacy group, Gymnasts for Change Canada, says this lack of public response speaks to broader problems with accountability that exist throughout sport.
“The silence is deafening and it is concerning. I think it speaks to a wider problem generally that the NHL and just the sport system as a whole has with dealing with issues of abuse, of sexual violence, even of issues like racism, homophobia,” she stated. “Of course, there are legalities around being able to say certain things. But certainly, a general statement of support for all victims of sexual violence wouldn’t be out of step. But we haven’t seen that.”
Of the 5 gamers charged, 4 have present NHL contracts that expire on the finish of this season. Once a contract expires, gamers enter free company.
Now {that a} formal authorized course of to deal with these allegations is starting, Gilhooly says he believes the league can keep away from having to deal with the scenario as soon as the contracts expire.
“The league is playing for time,” Gilhooly stated. “And now that there’s a formal legal process in London, Ontario, the league doesn’t have to do anything.”
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