Hockey Canada released a statement saying that it had been made aware by Hockey Canada of an “alleged groupsexual assault” of members of its 2002/03 National Junior Team, which occurred during the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championships in Halifax (Nova Scotia).
TSN/CTV’s Rick Westhead, a reporter for TSN/CTV, notified Hockey Canada in an email on Thursday night.
“Mr. Westhead informed Hockey Canada that he spoke to multiple witnesses and provided him with explicit descriptions about an assault,” Hockey Canada wrote. This statement was made “following an interview by Conservative MP John Nater” who has the same information. Hockey Canada immediately contacted Halifax Regional Police to discuss the disturbing details in Mr. Westhead’s emails. Halifax was the cohost city. [along with Sydney, Nova Scotia] The 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship was completed. Sport Canada was also notified of this information.
Hockey Canada stated that it had “exhorted” Westhead to talk with police and to have his sources do the same. Nater was also asked to provide any information that he had about the assault by Nater to authorities.
Westhead has been an active reporter on Hockey Canada’s scandals. One of the most notable involved another alleged victim of sexual assault. The news broke in May about a woman accusing eight Canadian junior hockey team members of sexually assaulting the victim after she attended a gala event in London, Ontario. The woman sought more than $3.5million in damages from Hockey Canada, Canada Hockey League and unnamed athletes. The details of the settlement have not been made public. The allegations were not proven in court.
Hockey Canada also used its “National Equity Fund,” a fund that is funded from membership fees across the country, to pay off sexual assault cases. Hockey Canada announced Thursday that it would not continue to use the fund in this manner.
While Westhead was once again in charge of another Hockey Canada scandal, his email did not represent the first time that the governing body had heard about a possible incident at the 2003 tournament. This was revealed by the statement on Friday.
“Two Weeks ago, Hockey Canada staff received a rumour that there was’something bad’ at 2003 World Juniors.” It said. “But [we] We were not given any information. Sport Canada was informed immediately. Hockey Canada hired a third party investigator to help them find out more. We received the email details from Mr. Westhead.”
Hockey Canada stated that it believed the incident should be investigated and that Hockey Canada would cooperate fully.