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

[H3ckt1k]

Just read the Rick westhead article. Seems like a misunderstanding from both sides. Wouldn’t crucify the kids over it

Is there another Rick Westhead?

 

[SlafySZN]

Comtois, Batherson, Formenton, McLeod, and Howden have not replied to any request for comment according to Global News.

There are an additional three players who have given the barest of replies through their agents, none of which are exactly full-throated denials:

-Dube's rep issued a very vague statement about his client being "cleared" of "wrongdoing".
-Katchouk's rep was similarly vague, and said only he "fully cooperated" with the HC investigation.
-Steenbergen's rep flat out said he could "not comment".

What's 5 + 3? Well, you tell me.

The 8 guys aren’t necessarily from the WJC team. Or i missed something?

 

[wetcoast]

This argument is so f***ing lazy.

Let’s take a house fire for example.

There’s a house fire happening in your house. Do you put it out? Or do you say that because there’s fires everywhere, it doesn’t matter?

No you obviously put it out then refuse insurance because well it was because of house culture....or something like that.

Everyone should read this post as there are layers of problems here and making hockey culture the focal point is missing all of the other factors.

If it was "hockey culture" then it would be rampant in Sweden, maybe because they have mainly "town" teams that's why it's less prevalent and/or maybe other factors are at play here as well.

There obviously is problem but grandstanding and trying to figure out who the 8 were and making conclusions without the whole story don't bring anything to the solution table.

As a former CHL player and CJHL player, I 100% agree....the toxic culture around hockey in regards to sexual behaviors as well as bullying type behavior needs to change. It has been going in the right direction, but this situation is obviously one that shows regression, especially players that should of known better, having agents, playing high level hockey and for team Canada, one would assume the conversation of sexual activities/partying/women has been broached several times to these players. But obviously they didn't get the message.

I for one, have never in my life been involved in this type of situation, but know 100% for sure it happened on teams I played for. As I get older/wiser and see my kids involved in the sport, I start to understand why these things were allowed to happen.

I look back at my time in hockey and come to the conclusion:

1. Many hockey players come from out of town/different city, they arrive in a new community and often start to receive multiple messages/DM's from girls/women in that community. I currently billet players playing at a high level and have seen this happen many times. Without knowing the girls/women, the players engage in conversations and it goes from there. I don't understand why girls/women seek out the players even before they arrive, but perhaps a new face, athletic, potential to have a future with the player and get out of the community with that player. Or perhaps to seek out fun....or all of the above.

2. Players feel invincible and don't nee to be accountable now that they are away from family/friends. Kind of the same attitude of "What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas". It gives people the idea that they can get away with more and willing to take more risks because it is not where they have come from.

3. Sexual acts are still deemed as private/taboo acts to talk about in public settings. So if a woman/girl has sex with players, their is still the idea in most peoples minds it won't get out. If they do the details don't etc.

4. Sexual assaults are very very hard to prove after the fact as it often comes down to ones word against the other. Consent is also a very poorly understood definition by most people not involved in the judicial system. So a consenting adult female may revoke consent throughout the act, but those who are involved may not understand that and proceed on.

We are all still human, we all still have deeply rooted desires surrounding who/how we pursue partners....those things are changing and social norms are becoming better. But there are still animalistic tendencies for females to seek out partners they believe will give them and their offspring the best chance at success in life. Hockey players are often those types of historical individuals.

I don't understand why these things still happen....why players ever think its right to take advantage of a woman in this position. Its wrong on all levels....but the culture of hockey and women in Canada is a deeply routed thing. And it needs to be talked about and understood....

I hope that these players aren't thrown out like trash right away....their needs to be some form of a study on these types of things to understand how/why they happen to try and create an educational portion required by players/parents/coaches and executives.

I hope this doesn't get too ugly.

 

[duul]

What does 'repeatedly sexually assaulted' mean?

Could be the difference between wanting to hang these kids in the city centre or explaining why what they did was wrong and to not do it again. Why is that lost on most of you?

 

[Zippity]

 

[PostBradMalone]

The 8 guys aren’t necessarily from the WJC team. Or i missed something?

Not necessarily, no. But there's a core group of five who, for whatever reason, will not talk to the press at all about it. The Heritage Committee hearings begin next week so those individuals are rapidly running out of time to establish some kind of favorable narrative.

The other three stand out to me just because their statements were so much different than that of everyone else. That's not to say they were definitively involved, of course, but it wouldn't be hard for any of them to flat-out state, like Kyrou or Thomas, "I wasn't involved in the alleged incident and never saw it". Alas they did not. One even had their rep throw in the threat of litigation for good measure.

Until either the NHL investigation is complete or the HC hearings reveal more, we won't definitively know what non-WJC players were involved, if any. That's why the individual statements (or lack thereof) are so intriguing right now.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

So what happens if we just see a statement from every single player denying involvement and a list is never made public? Isnt that a scenario that could happen?

Not likely.

We know at least seven of these scumbags have lawyered up and that the version they are presenting, through their representation, is that something happened, but it was consensual. Obviously because there is too much evidence for them to even deny their involvement.

If these same seven players also come out and say "we were not involved", that contradicts the version their lawyers have presented. That would destroy the entire narrative they have fabricated and possibly get them in even more trouble.

What's likely to happen is that these degenerates will stay silent, or release extremely vague, statements in lawyerspeak where they deny breaking the law, rather than pretend they were not involved.

 

[Zippity]

How many sex abuse claims does Hockey Canada get, that they put it in their resume?

 

[duul]

Not likely.

We know at least seven of these scumbags have lawyered up and that the version they are presenting, through their representation, is that something happened, but it was consensual. Obviously because there is too much evidence for them to even deny their involvement.

If these same seven players also come out and say "we were not involved", that contradicts the version their lawyers have presented. That would destroy the entire narrative they have fabricated and possibly get them in even more trouble.

What's likely to happen is that these degenerates will stay silent, or release extremely vague, statements in lawyerspeak where they deny breaking the law, rather than pretend they were not involved.

Why do you repeatedly call teenagers scumbags and degenerates? What if it was consensual?

 

[Magnum23]

So what happens if we just see a statement from every single player denying involvement and a list is never made public? Isnt that a scenario that could happen?

I think the case will only get worse if all 8 lies about involvement. By that time I would hope, HC, someone higher up or even the victim would get involved and expose the 8. Therefore, making the consequences even worse for the 8.

Or I can see 6/8 denies and the last two just drops a bomb and exposes them

 

[PostBradMalone]

How many sex abuse claims does Hockey Canada get, that they put it in their resume?

Honestly I would put it over a dozen annually? You're talking about not just the elite levels but grassroots. For every Graham James we hear about there are probably a handful who are never outed, or who "only" offend with one or two young people and have it never brought to the front page. Sports- not just hockey, others too- badly need reformation in that regard, and it starts with not having their f***ing governing bodies complicit in covering it up.

 

[Zippity]

Hockey Canada had abuse claim reserve fund, court documents show

The detail is included in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glen McCurdie, who was then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance and risk management, as part of a lawsuit launched by an injured player in Ontario.

ottawa.citynews.ca

Would this be a conflict if another family member worked for the insurance company?

 

[Magnum23]

2 Sens players are not releasing statements…

Drake Batherson and who is the other guy again?

 

[duul]

I think the case will only get worse if all 8 lies about involvement. By that time I would hope, HC, someone higher up or even the victim would get involved and expose the 8. Therefore, making the consequences even worse for the 8.

Or I can see 6/8 denies and the last two just drops a bomb and exposes them

What kind of movies have you been watching?

The fact that the article has the pursuers proclaiming this is their 'Watershed' moment speaks volumes to how badly these people desperately want a story. If there was wrongdoing it would be sorted through the courts in a proper manner. Instead we are lambasting kids who we have no idea are in the right or wrong in this situation or not.

Anyone who has been in these positions or heard about them through junior hockey through their life will realize there are two sides to every story.

 

[Rob Brown]

Drake Batherson and who is the other guy again?

Formenton

 

[Amadeus]

By process of elimination, whose left?

Heard Thomas, Kyrou and Raddysh came out and denied involvement.

 

[duul]

The way people are posting in here is straight up sadistic. Get help.

 

[wetcoast]

By all accounts, USA Hockey acted quickly to remove the player from the home but it wan't until years later that the victim came forward. While disturbing, it isn't comparable to this.

I'm also not interested in playing USA vs. Canada or in any whatboutisms.

After the USA Gymnastics scandal, nothing would shock me when it comes to sports in the US.

Why are you even mentioning or characterizing the poster you are responding to with the "whataboutism" argument when you brought up the USA?

Canada should be severely punished for this. Actions or inaction have consequences.

I would expect the USA to be severely punished if there was a scandal like this.

Maybe if people stopped and actually think before trying to appease some moral higher ground and look at the facts, or lack of them then the posts might make a bit of sense.

I highly doubt that you really would think that the Boucher incident which involved a minor is simply disturbing and not comparable to what might possibly be a consensualish encounter with a sober second thought afterwards and be warned no doubt a certain poster will now call you a Boucher apologist or perhaps not there logic is very inconsistent.

I guess there are some that want to see hockey Canada punished and perhaps they could start a boycott of all hockey (and related matters) right now?

 

[Amadeus]

Drake Batherson and who is the other guy again?

Yeah him and Formenton - something seems fishy.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Drake Batherson and who is the other guy again?

Alex Formenton

 

[MXD]

That's the polite way to put it.

 

[Zippity]

Hockey Canada had abuse claim reserve fund, court documents show

The detail is included in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glen McCurdie, who was then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance and risk management, as part of a lawsuit launched by an injured player in Ontario.

ottawa.citynews.ca

 

[MXD]

The way people are posting in here is straight up sadistic. Get help.

Your feelings are hurt?

 

[PostBradMalone]

By process of elimination, whose left?

Heard Thomas, Kyrou and Raddysh came out and denied involvement.

Comtois, Batherson, Formenton, McLeod, and Howden, if you're looking for players who have not made any statement of any kind, vague or otherwise.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Looks like we’re gonna find out who they were through process of elimination as all the players who weren’t there that night will release these kind of statements