Former WHL player who alleges he was abused says he's been blacklisted by the hockey community

If anyone has ever wondered why so many keep stories of alleged abuse to themselves, this would be an example of why. Brad Hammett, who played in the WHL in the early 80s and spoke out about being attacked by his teammates, says the consequences he has faced have been severe.

"Since I told my story last year, I have been blackballed by the hockey community," Hammett wrote in a affidavit filed in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto on November 26th. "I used to be a scout for various teams, including in the NHL. Not long after the CTV story aired, I received communications from one NHL team saying they no longer needed my services. Others simply stopped calling."

"One of my close friends advised me that another of our old junior hockey buddies simply said 'when did Brad turn gay' when the subject of my interview came up in conversation. I feel as if I am alone on an island now, with most of my peers turning on me for telling the world what everybody knew was happening."

In an interview with CTV, Hammett alleged that he was abused during the 1981-82 season when he played with the WHL's Billings (Mont.) Bighorns. He said the abuse continued the following season after the franchise moved to Nanaimo, B.C., and became the Islanders. He is part of a class action suit filed against the CHL over hazing and abuse allegations.

Hammett has said in an affidavit as part of the suit that two teammates pinned him down in a hotel room while on the road and physically and sexually assaulted him. He also claims that after speaking out against things that were going on in the locker room, he was attacked by four teammates, two of them from the first incident, and repeatedly punched and kicked until he was on the ground.

"Once beaten to the ground my arms were held out to the side by two assailants standing on them and I was taped to a hockey stick behind my head crucifixion style. I was then dragged across the room by the hockey stick into the shower where the water was turned on scalding hot, a hockey lace was put on my penis and a coat rack was dragged into the shower, the lace was thrown over the rack and the other end was attached to my ankle"

Hammett said he eventually got free after more than an hour after the tape had become soft enough to break. "...all the while as my leg lowered it pulled my penis to the point of bleeding and tearing the skin."

Hammett said he endured years of alcohol abuse as a result of the alleged incidents.

Source: TSN.ca

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