# Hockey Canada has secret fund to pay off victims of sexual assaults by players **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 23, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456 "2022-07-23T21:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/21 "2024-02-04T03:21:19Z")
They are all on leave from their teams and all of their contracts expire at the end of the season. I think that means that they aren’t getting paid any longer. They are effectively free agents without a team. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/22 "2024-02-05T18:54:10Z")
[They’re all technically on paid leave](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/world-junior-players-sexual-assault-london-1.7103257) - at least, the ones in the NHL, not sure about Alex Formenton’s situation with the Swiss league. A suspension would result in them not getting paid, but I’m not sure how much power the NHL has to suspend them for events that occurred before they were employed in the NHL. Maybe a broad morality clause? Even if they did suspend them, the players union might feel compelled to appeal, and that would keep the story in the news and be horrible optics for hockey in general. The NHL would prefer that this just go away, and they seem to think doing nothing is the best way to accomplish that. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/23 "2024-02-21T03:26:57Z")
London police set up a special review committee in conjunction with a local centre for victims of sex assault, designed to review allegations of sexual assault in case the police missed something. The committee was set up shortly before the Covid pandemic, and had to shut down in the early days, because of limited access to the police station where files were kept. The committee members are really disheartened that they missed their chance to review this file. > **[London committee member says 'it just rips at your stomach' they never got to...](https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7110551)** > > Jennifer Dunn's heart sank when news broke in 2022 about a London, Ont., sexual assault investigation allegedly involving members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team. Dunn and others with a civilian committee that reviews such... ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/24 "2024-02-21T12:06:42Z")
Police chiefs, here in London, and elsewhere, seem to spend an inordinate amount of time formerly apologizing and placating the overlooked and mistreated. It’s getting to look like it’s their number one required job skill. I know they think this, ‘almost sounds like it might actually mean something’, is working, but it’s not. Athletes, cops, politicians, if not immediately challenged or called out, seem to imagine we’re buying this weaselling language. If any dare to ask awkward or impertinent questions, ‘Times up, no more questions!’ Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/25 "2025-04-22T17:19:16Z")
And the trial starts: > 5 ex-world junior hockey players plead not guilty to sexual assault as jury selection starts in London, Ont. [https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7511439](https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7511439) ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/26 "2025-04-22T21:45:11Z")
That is good news. I hope the woman is psyched up for the questions the attorneys will ask, as each player’s individually represented. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/27 "2025-04-23T01:32:46Z")
The OP mentioned 8 players, but only 5 have been charged. What happened with the other three? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/28 "2025-04-23T01:40:31Z")
Dunno. this is the first article I’ve seen in a while. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/29 "2025-04-23T02:39:45Z")
Presumably the police did not feel they had sufficient evidence for a criminal trial for the remaining three. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/30 "2025-04-25T19:25:47Z")
Judge declares mistrial; dismisses jury. Reasons for mistrial are under a publication ban, so as to not prejudice the next jury, which the judge hopes to seat next week. > **[Judge declares mistrial in sexual assault case against five...](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-judge-declares-mistrial-in-sexual-assault-case-against-five-former/)** > > The five players were each accused of sexually assaulting a woman in London, Ont., after a Hockey Canada gala in 2018 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/31 "2025-04-25T19:53:22Z")
I know it’s pointless to speculate, but let’s do it anyway. According to the article, on Wednesday after the noon break, the judge told the jurors “something happened over the lunch hour that I need to think about and to discuss with the lawyers.” Presumably this is related to the mistrial. What could cause that? In the US, I’d guess that a juror was caught reading something they shouldn’t, but even that would usually lead to one juror being dismissed, not an entire mistrial. What are possible causes this early in the trial? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/32 "2025-04-25T20:24:24Z")
My guess: the whole jury and alternates were told something in court that they shouldn’t’ve heard and the judge decided it was impossible to expect them to ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/33 "2025-04-26T23:34:04Z")
Here’s the outline of the Crown’s opening statement from the day before the mistrial was declared. > **[Michael McLeod summoned world junior teammates to hotel room: Crown](https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/michael-mcleod-summoned-world-junior-teammates-to-hotel-room-crown)** > > Legal consent will be key issue, Crown says at trial of five players from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team accused of sexual assault ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/34 "2025-05-17T15:27:03Z")
Well now. Another jury has been discharged and the trial will continue with judge alone. Since it’s no longer a jury trial, the restrictions on saying what happened in both the first trial and the second have been lifted. The reason for the discharge of the first jury is that during a lunch break in the first day, one of the defence lawyers for one of the players, Alex Formenton, approached a juror during the lunch break and chatted with the juror, saying that she’d seen a lot of head-nodding from the jurors at one point in the Crown’s opening. Mistrial due to that lawyer’s conduct. It’s ironclad that a lawyer doesn’t have any contact with a juror while the case is pending. Reason for the discharge of the second jury is linked to that same lawyer. Jurors on the second jury sent a note to the judge, saying that the two lawyers for Formenton seemed to be discussing the jurors’ appearance when they would come into court and were laughing at them. Jurors felt it was disrespectful and unprofessional. Second jury discharged, but no mistrial. The judge will decide the case herself, which is an option under Canadian criminal law. Details in this CBC article: [https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7536599](https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7536599) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/35 "2025-05-17T16:17:33Z")
Is it too much to hope that this lawyer might face professional consequences? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/36 "2025-05-17T16:49:08Z")
Early days yet. Trial has to conclude. But I wouldn’t be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/37 "2025-05-19T04:14:42Z")
Likewise. That’s pretty rude and unprofessional, not to mention contrary to your client’s best interests. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/38 "2025-07-24T08:07:37Z")
Ruling is apparently imminent. > **[Five players implicated: Judge to rule in sexual assault trial that rocked...](https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2323609.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/39 "2025-07-24T08:52:17Z")
They are expected Thursday morning (EDT): > **[Verdicts at sexual assault trial of 5 former world junior hockey players...](https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/verdicts-at-sexual-assault-trial-of-5-former-world-junior-hockey-players-expected-thursday/)** > > It started out as a June night of partying and celebration in London, Ont. for members of the gold medal winning 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team. However, it ended up with five of the players embroiled in a highly publicized sexual assault... ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456/40 "2025-07-24T23:05:58Z")
All five players have been found not guilty: > **[Gasps and tears in courtroom as former junior hockey players found not guilty](https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/gasps-and-tears-in-courtroom-as-former-junior-hockey-players-found-not-guilty/)** > > Hugs, tears and sighs of relief filled a London, Ont. courtroom as five former members of Canada’s junior hockey team on trial for sexual assault were found not guilty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hockey-canada-has-secret-fund-to-pay-off-victims-of-sexual-assaults-by-players/968456.md?page=3)