Hockey Canada has referred a third sexual assault allegation to an independent third party that will decide if it will be investigated.
The national federation confirmed the news Thursday to Sportsnet.
“Hockey Canada was informed of a potential situation that we took seriously and immediately sent it to the ITP. Hockey Canada has not received a formal complaint,” a spokesperson said.
Because it has not received a formal complaint, Hockey Canada “therefore has no further information on the alleged incident, its timing, or parties involved.”
Overseeing the ITP and reporting the findings to Hockey Canada are Ottawa-area lawyers Erin Durant and Brian Ward. Durant and Ward have the authority to pursue a formal investigation should they find one is warranted. They are serving in a similar capacity with the allegations of a sexual assault involving Hockey Canada at the 2003 world juniors in Halifax.
Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
Sport Canada previously told CBC News that another alleged incident was reported to Hockey Canada the day after its officials appeared as witnesses at July’s hearings in Ottawa.
Hockey Canada has been under scrutiny since May, when news broke about an alleged sexual assault following a gala event in 2018 in London, Ont., involved eight unidentified players, including members of that year’s world junior team and subsequent settlement.
Allegations of a gang sexual assault involving the 2003 world junior team emerged in July.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Hockey Canada has had its federal funding frozen during an investigation into its handling of the case and settlement, while a number of corporations have paused sponsorship dollars.
— With files from the Canadian Press and Sportsnet’s Paul D. Grant
