More allegations of sexual assault have rocked Canadian hockey.
Peel Regional Police have confirmed the department is investigating a 2014 sexual assault allegation involving eight former Ontario Hockey League players.
TSN/CTV first reported the allegations in October. Peel police said Wednesday their special victims unit is conducting an ongoing investigation into the matter.
In 2014, according to the original report, the then 22-year-old complainant was in a relationship with a 19-year-old Mississauga Steelheads player. The report said that in November of that year, she went over to watch television, and when she got there, eight team members were present.
According to the TSN/CTV report, after she and the player she was dating started getting intimate in a basement bathroom, the other players entered the small room and took turns assaulting her for 90 minutes.
None of the players have been named, and none of the allegations have been tested in court.
Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief and Mississauga, Ontario native Marc Andrews
A team in the junior-level OHL, the Mississauga Steelheads have since moved to Brampton
The Ontario Hockey League said in October it was taking the allegations “very seriously” and would cooperate with any police investigation.
The Steelheads moved from Mississauga to Brampton in June.
This case comes as five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team await trial next month on sexual assault allegations. Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault earlier this year in an incident that allegedly took place in London, Ontario, in June 2018.
McLeod is facing an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault
Dube, McLeod and Formenton attended a London, Ontario court in person back in November for the first time.
Lawyers for the players have said their clients plan to defend themselves against the allegations, and all five are expected to plead not guilty.
A jury trial is scheduled to begin on April 22, which will be heard by Justice Maria Carroccia.
Several weeks have been set aside for legal arguments before then, but the issues discussed in those hearings cannot be reported at this time due to a publication ban meant to protect the right to a fair trial for the accused.
The charges stem for an incident that allegedly took place as the players and many of their teammates were in London for a Hockey Canada gala celebrating their gold medal win at that year´s world junior tournament.
Five members of Canada’s 2018 IIHF world junior hockey champions stand accused in London
Police launched a criminal investigation that was closed without charges in 2019 and then reopened in 2022 .
Investigators said in February of 2024 they were able to lay charges after collecting new evidence but declined to provide additional details, citing the court case.
The case has fueled greater scrutiny of sports organizations and how they handle allegations of sexual misconduct.
Hockey Canada has made wholesale changes after a scathing independent report and lost major sponsors in the nearly two years since this and other scandals emerged. CEO Scott Smith was ousted and the board of directors also resigned in October 2022, related to how Hockey Canada handled sexual assault allegations and how it paid out settlements.
In 2023, Nike permanently ended its partnership with the organization after earlier pausing it, along with other sponsors, given the heavy criticism of Hockey Canada leadership.
