The London Police Service issued a statement Wednesday saying it plans to hold a media conference on Feb. 5 "in relation to a sexual assault investigation dating back to 2018."
This follows a Globe and Mail report saying five players connected to the investigation into an alleged incident involving the 2018 Canadian World Junior team had been given a deadline to turn themselves in.
"We understand that there is significant public interest in relation to a sexual assault investigation dating back to 2018," said the LPS statement, also shared on social media. "While we are unable to provide an update at this time, we anticipate that the London Police Service will hold a press conference on Monday, February 5, 2024 to share further details."
The location and time of the media conference were not disclosed.
A year ago, London police filed an application with the Ontario Court of Justice stating they had reasonable grounds to believe five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior team had sexually assaulted a woman.
In May 2022, it was revealed that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman in London, Ont., after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight men, including members of the 2018 men’s World Junior team, in June 2018.
Criticism of how Hockey Canada handled the alleged assault — plus allegations of another one involving the 2003 Canadian team at the World Juniors in Halifax — prompted an overhaul of the governing body’s leadership.
