Hockey initiations: an ex-player pursues former teammates and hockey NB

An ex-neo-Brunswickois hockey player continues Hockey NB, Hockey Canada and two former teammates related to an initiation occurred more than 20 years ago.

The case dates back to 2003. The complainant was 16 years old at the time and was a member of a competitive hockey team in New Brunswick.

In a civil prosecution filed in 2024 in the court of the king’s bench in Saint-Jean, he alleged that he was attacked during his initiation, while the coaches had left to bed.

Two teammates, who are targeted by the prosecution, would then have ordered the complainant and the other recruits of the team to undress and enter a small room.

The complainant alleges that he was then brought him out of the room, that he had to sit on a chair and that he was forced to talk about his sexual experiences while the two teammates were screaming against him.

Subsequently, the complainant was brought out outside, naked, with the other players. They were forced to walk while holding the genitals of the player who was in front of them, while another player held their genitalswe read in the advice of prosecution.

The complainant alleges that this had consequences on his mental health, his sexuality and other dimensions of his life. He accuses Hockey NB and Hockey Canada of having been negligence.

Radio-Canada does not reveal the names of the former players since they were minors at the time of the alleged facts.

Hockey NB, Hockey Canada and the two former players defend themselves

Hockey Canada, Hockey NB and the two former complainant’s teammates submitted defense presentations, in which they categorically deny allegations and all responsibility.

The two former teammates also decided to counterattack.

One of them alleys that the initiation in which players participated in 2003 was not a sexual nature and that no assault was committed.

He alleys that the participants gave their consent before and during the activities. This defendant asks the king’s court to order the complainant to pay him damages.

A strong message must be launched that adolescents should not be afraid of incendiary and fallacious allegations 20 years after consensual activities between teammateswe read in the document.

He accuses the complainant of making false allegations in order to obtain Easy Payment of Hockey Canada After learning that the organization used secret funds to set up sexual assault files.

The existence of these funds was revealed in 2022 in the wake of allegations aimed at members of the 2018 national junior team.