Government officials want answers from Hockey Canada on assault lawsuit settlement

The Government of Canada has decided it wants answers from officials with Hockey Canada after word that the organization had settled a lawsuit stemming from allegations of assault following the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship.

"The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage agreed during an in camera meeting today to ask Hockey Canada officials to testify in Ottawa on June 20 about the settlement of a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by 8 CHL players in June 2018," said TSN's Rick Westhead.

"Hockey Canada officials who will be asked to testify include CEO Scott Smith, former CEO Tom Renney, former Sr VP of insurance and risk management Glen McCurdie, and Hockey Canada Foundation chair David Andrews," he continued.

"While the Hockey Canada officials will be invited to testify, they will be issued summons if they don't respond or decline invitation."

Westhead added three hours has been set aside for testimony, although more witnesses and time may be added if deemed necessary.

This puts Hockey Canada officials in a tough spot. There are some questions they are likely unable to answer due to a non-disclosure agreement with the plaintiff in the case. That said, the women's lawyer refused to say whether she ever signed one. She claimed she was repeatedly assaulted while intoxicated in a hotel room following a Hockey Canada Foundation gala and golf event in the city in June of 2018. The suit claimed all players were members of the CHL, "including but not limited to members of the Canada U20 Men's Junior Hockey Team." No one was named specifically.

Some of the members of that team have already stated through their agents that they had no involvement. Several others have remained quiet. There was no word at all on the lawsuit until Hockey Canada announced a settlement had been reached. No terms of that agreement have been made public. The plaintiff had asked a judge to award her around $7 million.

"The plaintiff is satisfied with the outcome and relieved that this difficult matter has been concluded," said her lawyer in a statement to TSN when the settlement was made public. "She has nothing further to add and, consistent with her expressed wishes and behaviour throughout, requests that her privacy and desire not to be identified continues to be respected."

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