Rick Westhead: Jr. A teamowner ask Hockey Canadas Investigative Jurisdiction

An investigation into an alleged sexual attack involving at least four hockey players who have connections with the Brockville Braves Junior A Team raises questions of the jurisdiction of the teams about Hockey Canadas to investigate such incidents.

Braves co-owner Dustin Traylen told TSN in a series of recent interviews that the allegations were connected to an incident that took place at Queens University in Kingston, Ont., In the spring of 2024, after the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Brockville is an hour's drive north of Kingston and the Braves play in the eight-team Central Canada Hockey League.

When Hockey Canada became a complete signer in 2022 of the Sports Integrity Commissioner office (OSIC), the Federation agreed to supervise complaints regarding incidents in national teams on the OSIC and to establish a new independent third party (ITP) to act on other nursing, including serious accusations of mistreatment.

Traylen said that on December 6 he was informed by the ITP that two players in his selection would be suspended pending the results of the investigation into the incident. (Two other players who are confronted with allegations did not return to Brockville this season. One player withdrew from Hockey and another is now playing in the US)

Now, as the complainant and the respondents are waiting for the findings of the investigation, Traylen raises questions about the ITPS jurisdiction. He says that the police have the right expertise to investigate such matters and that the ITP should have referred the case to the police, because the alleged attack did not take place during the hockey season.

There is no police investigation into the incident, a person who is familiar with the case told TSN.

Kingston Police spokesperson Const. Anthony Colangeli wrote in an e -mail to TSN on Wednesday that, without more information or details about the exact date of the incident or the parties involved, I cannot be sure that our organization has some knowledge of this incident or that it has been reported to us in any way. “

Const. Colangeli wrote that the Kingston police take all the accusations of criminal offenses seriously and he encouraged the complainant to report the incident.

“The players are under our care and control during the season, and we have codes of conduct to try to keep children on the right and narrow, but this happened after the season, said Traylen. Where does this end? Hockey Canada looks at what children do during the summer? It is completely in accordance with.”

Traylen says that the accused players have been refused to have refused the right support for mental health care and that he is worried about their well -being.

One of these guys dropped 30 pounds and is meager and pale, said Traylen. It has taken a physical and emotional toll. It has been a complete beating.

In a statement to TSN, Jahmiah Ferdinand-Hodkin, a manager of Hockey Canadas ITP, that although it would not comment on individual matters, a jurisdiction assessment is carried out on all files and some complaints related to the accusations of behavior that is occurring outside the behavior of Hockey's Special Canada.

Ferdinand-Hodkin wrote that in cases where complaints contain allegations that can be subject to criminal investigation, the ITP contact with the local police to ensure that it is not disturbed with their investigation.

The ITP and all professionals involved in complaint processes meet their reporting obligations towards the law enforcement, she wrote.

Traylen said he also had the problems with the uneven way Hockey Canadas ITP has handled the suspensions of the players.

According to e-mails that Traylen provided, one of the Brockville players had lifted his suspension for three days, so that he could participate in the training camp for a high-level tournament. But when the ITP was asked by another player mother in March to temporarily lift the suspension of her sons, so that he could watch Braves's last match, the request was refused.

At the moment I cannot vary the interim suspension if you ask (for a day to view the game with his teammates) because I have not received an interim report or other information from the independent researcher that indicates that interim measures must be revised, ITP -researcher Krista Thompson wrote to the parent in an e -mail of 12 March. (Traylen has provided the e -mail.)

The researcher advises that they have little witnesses to interview and will then prepare and provide their final report, Thompson wrote. I can't estimate the timing in that respect.

In her e-mail to TSN, Ferdinand-Hodkin wrote that ITP has the freedom to impose interim sanctions based on the seriousness of the allegations.

Provisions regarding the implementation or different sanctions are made on the basis of the seriousness of accusations and the risk of damage to the participants and not on the basis of requests to participate in specific events or tournaments, she wrote.

Traylen says that although he has been told that the players have not allowed contact with the organization, he both made it clear that they are welcome to attend Brockville games.

Traylen said that the families of the two suspended players are now considering a lawsuit against Hockey Canada.