The National Hockey League (NHL) will begin its own investigation into allegations of possible multiple sexual assaults committed by junior Team Canada hockey players in 2017-18.
A woman had initiated legal proceedings in this regard once morest Hockey Canada, the Canadian League and eight players. Everything was settled by an amicable agreement.
The NHL is obviously not done with this story, as it issued a statement Thursday night saying it would investigate on its own, since the story might “involve players who are now in the NHL”.
The Bettman circuit, which called the reported facts “odious and reprehensible”, will determine whether sanctions will be necessary.
In an Ontario Superior Court document, the now 24-year-old woman explained that she was assaulted by the eight athletes, identified as “John Doe 1 to 8” on June 19, 2018, in London . They were in town for a Hockey Canada gala.
John Doe 1 allegedly accosted him at a bar and reached a high level of intoxication following the skater and his teammates offered him several alcoholic beverages. The lady then went to a hotel room and allegedly engaged in sexual acts with John Doe 1. The latter, however, allegedly brought seven other teammates into the room, without the consent of the complainant, who was assaulted at multiple times, The Athletic reported.
The lady demanded $3.55 million in past and future financial damages and for pain, suffering and emotional stress resulting from the assault.
She would have chosen not to speak to the police or the independent investigator from Hockey Canada, the sports federation said Thursday.
