The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey team will compete in the 2016-17 season after the team was suspended due to sexual assault allegations involving team members.
The university suspended the entire men’s hockey program last year after two members of the team were each charged with sexually assault. The incident took place in Thunder Bay while the Gee-Gees were playing the hockey team from Lakehead University.
The head coach of the Gee-Gees, Real Paiement, was fired following the allegations.
The team was initially supposed to serve a suspension for the remainder of the 2013-14 season, but the program was later put on hold for the entire 2014-15 season.
The reboot of the program will come with various measures in order to improve team culture, such as mandatory team sessions that cover hazing, harassment, anti-doping and alcohol use.
These measures will “foster a positive environment” for the student-athletes, said Marc Schryburt, director of sports services, in a press release.
The university says the re-launch of the program begins Thursday with the search for a head coach.