The hockey world and that of the QMJHL in particular were once again clouded Tuesday when another story of alleged gang rape committed by athletes was revealed.
• Read also: Sexual assault investigation: two Victoriaville Tigres players arrested
The son of former Canadian badass Shayne Corson, Noah Corson, is accused of sexually assaulting a minor in 2016, along with two young people under the age of 18, including a teammate with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville.
The latter two, whose identity cannot be revealed, have already pleaded guilty in youth court.
“As every time we hear these stories, it’s horrifying,” said Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge at a press briefing. I think that everyone has also understood that we are not in the anecdote and that it is really a question of a culture which is impregnated in the world of hockey, which will require the involvement of everyone world […], because it makes no sense. »
The alleged victim, aged 15 at the time, would not have consented to a group sexual relationship, the images of which would have been captured with a cell phone, according to what Martin Leclerc, of Radio-Canada, reported on Tuesday.
Photo archives, QMI Agency
Noah Corson is accused of having sexually assaulted a minor in 2016, along with two young people under the age of 18, including a teammate with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville.
Released
Corson, who was of legal age at the time of the charges and who has denied the charges, is due in court in June. One of his agents, Nicola Riopel, did not want to comment on his case. Journal“considering that the case is still pending before the court”.
The 24-year-old, born in Sherbrooke while his father wore the CH uniform, was released by his Premier AA Hockey League (ECHL) team, the Adirondack Thunder. He was later recalled on paper by the Utica Comets of the American League. But a representative of the New Jersey Devils, the NHL team that oversees the Thunder and the Comets, confirmed to Journal that it was only a transfer in connection with his contract, which should be terminated shortly.
The QMJHL will collaborate
Both the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) and the leaders of the then and current Voltigeurs claimed not to have been aware of this affair.
“The QMJHL and its teams will offer their full cooperation to the police investigation and to the legal process if they are requested”, can we read in a press release from the league, which insisted on specifying that its “first thoughts go to the alleged victim.
Other similar cases
The Courteau circuit has often been splashed in recent months. The Bloc Québécois had invited the Quebec police to analyze new elements in connection with an alleged sexual assault which allegedly involved four players from the Gatineau Olympiques in 2014.
Then, two hockey players from the Victoriaville Tigres face justice for a similar crime committed against a minor last year.
“It’s unfortunate, especially with all the work we do as a league to educate and make our players aware of these social issues,” Maxime Blouin, QMJHL communications director, told TVA Nouvelles.
“We are aware that we must do more prevention,” however admitted the director of services to players of the circuit, Natacha Llorens, to TVA Nouvelles.
– With the QMI Agency and Jean-François Chaumont
“A long catch-up to do”
Director Léa Clermont-Dion found that there was “a long catching up to do” when she conducted training on sexual consent for some 400 QMJHL players at the start of the season.
“In some cases, they did not know that when their partner was in an advanced state of intoxication, they could not have sexual relations with her, because the consent is not valid”, says the one who underlines the courage of the alleged victim of a gang rape allegedly committed by three people, including two former Drummondville Voltigeurs players in 2016.
Léa Clermont-Dion maintains that the hockey players have been very receptive.
“They were happy that we were talking about it, without infantilizing them, because they are between 16 and 20 years old, and without making them feel guilty either. I presented them with video clips, including one from the film I salute you bitch, the passage where we see a victim of gang rape who committed suicide. […] It was something that touched their hearts, that shook them. »
The force of the war
The author, documentary filmmaker and political scientist believes that it is necessary that these workshops be renewed each year, but, once again, it is a question of money.
“It takes political will, it takes funding,” she laments, a day after denouncing the trivialization of sexual violence before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in Ottawa. Sports organizations cannot be left to their own devices. »
“To change the culture, it takes real means. Right now, I think it’s a long time before the federal government really reacts and puts money on the table. There is the “I wear a complaint” line created in Quebec with the organization Sport’Aide, but it is not known to everyone. […] If the coaches are not aware, how do you expect them to get victims to file a complaint? »
” I keep hope “
Despite this other scandal and a “toxic” culture that seems well “rooted”, Léa Clermont-Dion keeps her head held high and remains positive.
” I keep hope. […] It depresses me a little, but I think there is really a will to change things. »