Hockey Canada has been made aware of yet another group sexual assault claim allegedly involving members of the 2002-03 National Junior Team.
In a statement released via Twitter Friday, Hockey Canada said it was made aware of the alleged incident after TSN/CTV reporter Rick Westhead was emailed about it. Multiple witnesses were said to have provided "explicit descriptions" of the alleged incident.
The statement also says that Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, who sits on the Canadian Heritage Committee as Vice-Chair currently investigating alleged sexual assaults involving Hockey Canada members and how those claims are handled, was also given information regarding the claims involving the 2002-03 National Junior Team.
Hockey Canada adds they want "to hear from anyone – past or present – who feels they are the victim of mistreatment, sexual violence, harassment or abuse by someone affiliated with our organization."
In May, it was revealed that the organization quietly settled a lawsuit filed by a young woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by eight junior hockey players during a Hockey Canada event in a London hotel room in June 2018. Hockey Canada has since announced that it will be reopening the investigation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the federation earlier this week after it was publicly revealed Hockey Canada maintained a fund, made up of membership fees collected across the country, to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.
“Right now, it’s hard for anyone in Canada to have faith or trust in anyone at Hockey Canada,” Trudeau said Tuesday in response to media question during an unrelated news conference in Bowen Island, British Columbia.
Hockey Canada has since stated it will no longer use the National Equity Fund to settle sexual assault claims.
The full statement issued by Hockey Canada on Friday can be read below:
Statement from Hockey Canada.
READ ➡️ https://t.co/eypv6EyDCm pic.twitter.com/tKwOTpXHi0— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 22, 2022
Perth-Wellington MP John Nater released a statement via Twitter on the incident:
— John Nater (@JohnNaterMP) July 22, 2022
-With files from Ruby Sweeney
