Betman plans a “thorough” investigation into alleged sexual assault in 2018

Montreal — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is determined to conduct a more comprehensive investigation into alleged sexual assault on women by eight Canadian Hockey League players.

Hockey Canada’s own investigation of the case by third-party investigator Henein HutchisonLLP failed to identify the player.

“A thorough investigation as much as possible to see if Hockey Canada can learn more than we could have noticed due to lack of information or some restrictions. I’m going to do it, “said Thursday prior to the NHL draft at the Betman Bell Center.

“Our goal is to reach the root of this and fully understand who actually did what.”

Hockey Canada, its finances, and the organization’s internal reporting structure have been in the limelight since it was first published in May by the settlement of a lawsuit filed by a woman allegedly sexually assaulted in London, Ontario, in June 2018. I’m bathing. Hotel room by eight CHL players after the Hockey Canada Foundation Golf and Gala event She does not name the player. Some of them belong to the 2017-18 Canada Junior Men’s National Team, clarifying their desire to keep their identities secret.

A lawsuit in which a woman sought damages of $ 3.55 million was filed in the Ontario High Court on April 20. The terms of the settlement were not announced.

Since the lawsuit was announced, Hockey Canada has frozen government funding and several major companies (Tim Hortons, Novascosia Bank, Esso, etc.) have withdrawn their sponsorship from the World Junior Championships in Edmonton. ..

Betman said he is working with the NHL Players Association in setting the parameters of the survey and “expects full cooperation” from all players and their clubs.

“I want them to make sure their players are available to us and they tell us the truth,” Betman said.

“This is terrible. It’s scary. It’s unacceptable. But because everyone involved is anonymous, this is a difficult task trying to figure out exactly what happened, but I. Will do their best. “

The investigation will be led by Jared M. Maples, the league’s new senior vice president of security, who replaced Dennis Cunningham, who retired in May.

“”[Maples] He has a very interesting and diverse background in the field of security. His last position was Secretary of Homeland Security in New Jersey. The rest of his resume that you don’t write on paper, “Betman said.

Maples worked for the US Department of Defense (2004-2006) for two years and for the Central Intelligence Agency (2006-16) for ten years.

The NHL will publish the findings, if possible.

“It depends on what you need to do with the contract to get full access to the information. If you need certain information, you may be subject to restrictions that you cannot publish it,” Betman said. Mr. says.

“I hope it isn’t. We hope we are in a position to learn everything. [happened] I will publish it. That is our goal. “

Russian uncertainty

Betman carefully chose his words when discussing the sensitivity of Russia’s NHLer, who could return to North America for a training camp in the fall.

“There is probably no complete story about what each player’s relationship is like in Russia in relation to the government. We need to respect the process of what’s happening,” Betman said.

“I don’t want to say anything that can be misunderstood or cause inflammation in sensitive situations. Russian players who still live in Russia are able to do it for themselves and their families. You need to make sure that you are making the best decision possible. “

The NHL informed the Colorado Avalanche that the Stanley Cup would not travel to Russia this summer, but Betman upheld his decision to allow Russian prospects to be selected in the 2022 draft.

“We saw reports of advising clubs not to draft Russians. That’s not true,” Betman said.

The 2024 Hockey World Cup planned by the NHL and NHLPA is still in the “embryo stage”, so Betman said it has not yet been decided whether Russia will dress the team in the tournament. ..