Hockey Canada reopening investigation into alleged 2018 sexual assault

Hockey Canada says it is in the process of making changes.

Whether those moves will be enough to satisfy the general public, fans, federal government and corporate sponsors remains to be seen.

The sport's under-fire national federation made a series of announcements in an open letter to Canadians published Thursday, including the reopening of a third-party investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving members of the country's 2018 world junior team.

Hockey Canada said participation in the investigation by the players in question is mandatory, adding anyone who declines will be banned from all of the federation's activities and programs effective immediately.

The organization previously said it "strongly encouraged" players take part in the investigation into the alleged incident that occurred at a Hockey Canada function in 2018, but didn't make it mandatory.

Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith, who took on the role July 1 and has held various jobs at the federation since 1995, testified on Parliament Hill last month that "12 or 13" of the 19 players from the team were interviewed before the original and incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020.

"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," Hockey Canada wrote in its letter Thursday. "For that we unreservedly apologize.

"We know we need to do more to address the behaviours, on and off the ice, that conflict with what Canadians want hockey to be, and which undermine the many good things that the game brings to our country."

Hockey Canada quietly settled a lawsuit in May after a woman claimed she was assaulted by eight players, including members of the country's 2018 gold-medal winning junior team, at the event in London, Ont.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Smith, Hockey Canada's then-president, and outgoing CEO Tom Renney were grilled by MPs in Ottawa about the situation last month after news of the alleged assault and settlement broke.

Unhappy with what it heard from the executives, the federal government subsequently paused public funding for the national body. A number of companies also suspended sponsorships as they awaited next steps.

"We recognize many of the actions we are taking now should have been taken sooner, and faster," Hockey Canada's letter read. "We own that and will do better to deliver on our responsibilities to Canadians."

Hockey Canada said it will now require players, coaches, team staff and volunteers associated with its high-performance program to participate in mandatory sexual violence and consent training.