New Hockey Canada chairman Hugh Fraser says an independent investigation of an alleged sexual assault by members of the 2018 world junior men's team in London, Ont. is now complete and the report has been forwarded to an adjudication panel.
In a statement on Tuesday, Fraser says the panel will determine what sanction to impose, if any.
That panel consists of two retired judges and a lawyer. If there is an appeal, the appeal panel will also operate at arm’s length from Hockey Canada, Fraser said.
Hockey Canada restarted its investigation after receiving heavy criticism from the Canadian government. Many of Hockey Canada's sponsors also cut ties or suspended their involvement earlier this year.
The Hockey Canada investigation is one of several being conducted.
In a filing with the Ontario Court of Justice, the London police say they have reasonable grounds to believe five members of the 2018 world junior hockey team sexually assaulted a woman after a fundraising event, according to a story published Sunday by the Globe and Mail.
The 94-page document, which was filed and dated Oct. 17, includes a request for a judge to approve warrants and production orders as part of the police investigation into the alleged assault. Sportsnet has also obtained and reviewed the court documents.
"Hockey Canada is cooperating with the authorities, and our independent investigator has complied fully," said Fraser, a retired judge who was named chairman of a new board over the weekend.
The NHL also has said it is conducting an investigation.
It was revealed in May that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed settlement to the 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 of 2018. (Shortly after, similar allegations emerged about the 2003 men’s world junior team.)
Criticism of how Hockey Canada handled the alleged assaults have prompted an overhaul of the governing body’s leadership. Interim chair of the board Andrea Skinner resigned in early October, followed three days later by CEO Scott Smith. Hockey Canada’s board members also vacated their positions to make way for a new slate of directors. None of that occurred until after a series of parliamentary committee hearings and almost all sponsors permanently suspending further support of Hockey Canada, and eight provincial associations halting fee transfers and/or calling for wholesale changes to the organization.
"While acknowledging that it cannot change what happened in the past, the Hockey Canada Board of Directors wishes to emphasize our commitment to being transparent, addressing what happened in 2018, and to bringing about positive change within our organization to the benefit of all Canadians," Fraser said.
