Canadian Government Freezing Hockey Canada Funding- (2018 Canada World Jr Team Alleged Sexual Assault)

[ShameOnYouZidlicky]

Which players have denied it publicly so far?

Mete, personally. Gadjovich, Makar, Fabbro and Foote, through their agents.

 

[Static]

 

[99ovr]

Well, Makar has a rock-solid alibi as far as I know.

I don't think the league would have any other choice but to suspend any player that has been arrested and/or charged following the investigation.

Yeah that sounds fair, I also just brought up Makar as an example. I highly doubt they would blacklist arguably the best player in the world.

If they were found to be involved being blacklisted from hockey may be the least of their worries as criminal proceedings could possibly follow

Yeah haha that's a fair point. If I'm not mistaken I think the victim would lose her settlement money if they went through with that so we'll have to see. Such an egregious situation all around.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Do people actually think if for example high-end players like Cale Makar or Drake Batherson were deemed to be involved they would be blacklisted from hockey.

The answer to that question depends entirely on public reaction.

Corporate entities are entirely amoral and do not care about anything but growing and prospering. If rapists help them do that, they will associate/employ them without hesitation. If, on the contrary, it serves them better to drop them, they will.

The line of what is acceptable is constantly moving, and we're seeing that these type of stories get a lot more traction in the media and cause more outrage than they used to. Corporations are quicker to pull the trigger and break ties with assholes than they used to.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Well, Makar has a rock-solid alibi as far as I know.

I don't think the league would have any other choice but to suspend any player that has been arrested and/or charged following the investigation.

This is NOT posted to cast aspersions on other members of the Canadian WJC team, but these 5 guys have publicly denied any involvement:

Victor Mete
Cale Makar
Cal Foote
Dante Fabbro
Jonah Gadjovich

 

[MrGold]

This is NOT posted to cast aspersions on other members of the Canadian WJC team, but these 5 guys have publicly denied any involvement:

Victor Mete
Cale Makar
Cal Foote
Dante Fabbro
Jonah Gadjovich

Kinda surprised the rest of those not involved haven't come forward. Even more surprised journalists haven't been harassing them about it.

 

[CanadienShark]

This is NOT posted to cast aspersions on other members of the Canadian WJC team, but these 5 guys have publicly denied any involvement:

Victor Mete
Cale Makar
Cal Foote
Dante Fabbro
Jonah Gadjovich

That's a pretty tiny list. Yikes.

 

[BadgerBruce]

I would expect the overwhelming majority of players to lawyer-up … Hockey Canada and the NHL can run all the investigations they want, but they cannot force people to self-incriminate.

 

[Bond]

Kinda surprised the rest of those not involved haven't come forward. Even more surprised journalists haven't been harassing them about it.

Yeah, code of silence basically. I think some of them are going to have their contracts voided. I didn't realize Kyrou and Thomas were both on that team, that'd be a blow to the Blues.

 

[PJJJP]

Yeah, code of silence basically. I think some of them are going to have their contracts voided. I didn't realize Kyrou and Thomas were both on that team, that'd be a blow to the Blues.

Apparently Kyrou was not at the event

 

[Craigo85]

We're any of the players under 18 when this happened?

Also curious how many were only 18 and if underage drinking was part of this...not that it excuses it but could cause more problems for some parties involved. May also give everyone an excuse to have amnesia when they're compelled to participate in the new investigation.

I would expect the overwhelming majority of players to lawyer-up … Hockey Canada and the NHL can run all the investigations they want, but they cannot force people to self-incriminate.

Plus with all the Olympics we've missed now ... How big of a stick does HC really have to compel participation?

 

[Beauterham]

Apparently Kyrou was not at the event

Thomas also just signed a new deal with the Blues. That doesn't mean he isn't involved, but I'd bet the Blues wanted to know exactly if he was involved in any way before they offered him a new contract. Apparantly the Blues didn't see a problem and awarded him his new deal.

 

[Voight]

So they are using the same law firm as the one they used in 2018 to investigate this incident again? The same law firm that has build their name and reputation on defending sexual predators like Ghomeshi, Frost, and Regan.
How impartial will the investigation be again.
How is doing the same thing as before going to change the results?

Well, ideally you're going to use the best firm in whatever field you are being charged in. So using that firm would be a smart move from a business perspective.

 

[commie]

Well, ideally you're going to use the best firm in whatever field you are being charged in. So using that firm would be a smart move from a business perspective.

Yes,if their interest is in protecting and advocating on behalf of the accused and not the victims.

 

[DaveMatthew]

As people are going through the list of that 2018 WJC team, it's important to note the wording of what Westhead has written:

"A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted in 2018 by 8 Canadian Hockey League players, including some who were on Canada's World Juniors team"

We don't know how many involved were actually on that team. Could be 2. Could be 3. Could be 7. But I'd avoid going through the list and doing any sort of elimination process based on who's made public statements and who hasn't. I've even heard MP's use statements like, "there were only 18 players on that team..." completely disregarding this and perpetuating the notion that the unifying factor amongst the players was being on the WJC team, which isn't the case.

Hockey Canada and the CHL were named as defendants in the case, as were eight unnamed CHL players “including but not limited to members of the Canada U20 Men’s Junior Hockey Team.”

 

[Hockeylife2018]

Can anyone explain how she was not involved in prior investigations?
Does that mean
1)she refused to? (Seems suspect with the accusations)
2) she was never talked to (seems even worse)
3) part of the settlement from hockey Canada was just to keep quiet?

 

[Voight]

Yes,if their interest is in protecting and advocating on behalf of the accused and not the victims.

Its fairly standard in this type of situation. They are going to protect "their guys"

 

[BadgerBruce]

Can anyone explain how she was not involved in prior investigations?
Does that mean
1)she refused to? (Seems suspect with the accusations)
2) she was never talked to (seems even worse)
3) part of the settlement from hockey Canada was just to keep quiet?

My understanding, based on Heritage Committee testimony from Tom Renney and Scott Smith, and the Statement of Claim filed with the court by the alleged victim, is as follows:

The alleged victim’s step-father contacted Hockey Canada early in the morning after the alleged assaults took place; his step-daughter was in no condition to take matters into her own hands;

The woman alleges the players involved in the alleged assault and rape pressured her not to make a police report or cooperate with criminal investigations;

While the alleged victim was not interviewed by Henein Hutchison LLP, my guess is her refusal was on the advice of her attorney, Robert Talich, who has been through this kind of “independent investigation” crap with the Roman Catholic Church and knows the score. Frankly, it’s more than understandable why a female accuser might not jump at the opportunity to be interviewed by Marie Henein or her team. It’s also understandable how an organization hiring Henein Hutchison right out of the gate could signal to an accuser that she’s better off just forgetting about the whole thing.

According to testimony from Renney and Smith before the Heritage Committee, “six or seven WJC players” declined to speak with Henein Hutchison LLP.

The alleged victim, according to her Statement of Claim, was and remains seriously traumatized. Her account of what happened in that hotel room, if true, would scar most people for life.

That’s the barebones version so far.

 

[commie]

Its fairly standard in this type of situation. They are going to protect "their guys"

Then the investigation is not 'impartial' and not really '3rd party'.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Then the investigation is not 'impartial' and not really '3rd party'.

I would concur.

NOBODY hires Henein Hutchison to conduct an impartial 3rd party investigation.

A few stories about Marie Henein …

Warren Kinsella, in a recent Toronto Sun piece, goes to town against Debbie Jodoin, the “whistleblower” in the Patrick Brown mess. Here’s what he writes: “By the time Marie is done with you, you may be very much wondering whether you should have come forward as a “whistleblower.” You may be wondering whether any of it was worth it. You may be wishing you hadn’t been born.”


Here’s what Marie Henein said to students at the University of Windsor law school:

“The importance of developing your narrative starts from the moment the client walks into your office. It drives everything that you do, your analysis of the law, your comments to the media, your approach with experts and witnesses. It defines your cross-examination and your examination. Each question you ask, you have to advance your theory. Each witness and each exhibit, each conversation you have, is about advancing the fabric of the defence narrative."

When Henein managed to get charges of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing death against former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant withdrawn in 2009, Bryant said “she seemed to channel Hannibal Lecter through her ability to find a person's deepest frailties and exploit them."

THIS is who Hockey Canada hired within hours of receiving a call from the alleged victim’s step-father.

If I were the alleged victim in this case, I’d refuse to speak to anyone from Henein-Hutchison LLP.

 

[I am toxic]

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-canada-sexual-assault-investigation-open-letter-1.6520218

So they get there funding pulled and now they will have a proper investigation? How many players from that team are on NHL?

Here is the link to the open letter from Hockey Canada.

Among other things, they acknowledge that hockey has a culture problem (bolded mine):

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.

Even though that debate had been put to rest long ago, it is the first step in addressing the problem - admitting they have a problem. That hockey has a problem.

But despite their words, it is clear Hockey Canada is simply spouting this because they were caught. If someone else didn't bring this to light, Hockey Canada never would have. If the feds and sponsors hadn't cut funding, Hockey Canada wouldn't have done anything about serious allegations of gang rape, other than to protect itself.

As this article rightly points out, the same people who covered up allegations of serious gang rape for almost half a decade are the least qualified to institute the change of culture that is required within the sport:

“The culture of secrecy in and of itself cannot be broken by people who are invested in maintaining it,” said Allain.

“We can’t allow the same people who are invested in maintaining hockey as it is to be in charge of completely overhauling what it is. They’re not capable of doing it.”

Smith and Renney need to be sanctioned, and fired if they haven't already retired. New blood needs to be put in charge, and the long-overdue overhaul of hockey's culture in Canada needs to be instituted under the supervision of outside parties who are not invested in maintaining the toxic status quo.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Here is the link to the open letter from Hockey Canada.

Among other things, they acknowledge that hockey has a culture problem (bolded mine):



Even though that debate had been put to rest long ago, it is the first step in addressing the problem - admitting they have a problem. That hockey has a problem.

But despite their words, it is clear Hockey Canada is simply spouting this because they were caught. If someone else didn't bring this to light, Hockey Canada never would have. If the feds and sponsors hadn't cut funding, Hockey Canada wouldn't have done anything about serious allegations of gang rape, other than to protect itself.

As this article rightly points out, the same people who covered up allegations of serious gang rape for almost half a decade are the least qualified to institute the change of culture that is required within the sport:





Smith and Renney need to be sanctioned, and fired if they haven't already retired. New blood needs to be put in charge, and the long-overdue overhaul of hockey's culture in Canada needs to be instituted under the supervision of outside parties who are not invested in maintaining the toxic status quo.

Who did bring it to light, exactly? Was it Westhead again? Can't recall.

Would have been ideal if the victim had turned down the taxpayer-funded hush money from Hockey Canada, and went scorched earth on all of them.......but hopefully she can do that now on the re-do.

EDIT: I don't want that last part to come across as me criticizing her for taking the money....I'm not, she deserves at least that and then some. Just glad that all of this is finally being exposed instead of swept under the rug forever.

 

[joestevens29]

Yeah that sounds fair, I also just brought up Makar as an example. I highly doubt they would blacklist arguably the best player in the world.


Yeah haha that's a fair point. If I'm not mistaken I think the victim would lose her settlement money if they went through with that so we'll have to see. Such an egregious situation all around.

I honestly don't know the whole legality around it, but I don't see Hockey Canada asking for the money back even if it's within their rights.

Would be yet another black eye for them, one that they really don't need.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Nothing more than a meaningless virtue signal by an inept government more worried about optics than accomplishing anything of real meaning.

 

[I am toxic]

Who did bring it to light, exactly? Was it Westhead again? Can't recall.

Would have been ideal if the victim had turned down the taxpayer-funded hush money from Hockey Canada, and went scorched earth on all of them.......but hopefully she can do that now on the re-do.

EDIT: I don't want that last part to come across as me criticizing her for taking the money....I'm not, she deserves at least that and then some. Just glad that all of this is finally being exposed instead of swept under the rug forever.

According to this timeline, TSN first reported it on May 26, so I presume it was Westhead among others.