Two of the players on Canada’s 2003 junior men’s hockey team say they had no involvement or knowledge of an alleged group sexual assault.
Both Carlo Colaiacovo and P-A Parenteau went on to play in the N-H-L.
Jordin Tootoo is the third member of Canada’s 2003 men’s world junior hockey team to deny any involvement in an alleged group sexual assault.
Tootoo, who was a member of the silver-medal winning team, issued a statement on Saturday calling for a full investigation into the “disturbing allegations.”
“I don’t recall knowing or hearing about the incident in question during or after the tournament,” Tootoo wrote on Twitter. “I was shocked when I heard about it in the media and will cooperate fully with any investigation.”
In 2015 Tootoo wrote a memoir titled “All The Way,” where he discussed his experiences playing for Canada at the world juniors, including how the team was made up of “horny young men.”
“(It) wasn’t just one-on-one action,” wrote Tootoo in his book. “A few of the guys would get a couple of girls after practice and head into one of the rooms. Enough said.”
Tootoo acknowledged on Saturday that his memoir touched on the team’s sexual exploits, but also said he was struggling with alcohol addiction at the time. It was in that context that he said he couldn’t recall knowing or hearing about the alleged sexual assault.
Hours after Halifax police confirmed they are investigating a historic sexual assault, police in London, Ontario announced they are re-opening their investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving eight members of the 2018 team.
T-S-N reports it has spoken with three people who have watched a video allegedly showing approximately six players from the 2003 team appearing to sexually assault a non-responsive woman laying face up on a pool table.
One of the three sources told T-S-N that one of the players borrowed their video camera during the tournament in Halifax and the graphic recording was still on the camera when it was returned to them.
That person said they were pressured by the players to delete the video and that they never reported it to police.
Hockey Canada has already had funding from the federal government and corporate sponsors paused following allegations of a sexual assault involving eight members of the 2018 men’s junior hockey team.
Those allegations came to light after it was reported by media that Hockey Canada paid out an undisclosed settlement to the complainant after she sued the organization, the Canadian Hockey League, and the eight unnamed players. The woman was seeking $3.55 million.
On Wednesday, London, Ont., police chief Steve Williams ordered a review of that force’s initial sexual assault investigation in June 2018. He said on Friday that, following the review, London police would reopen their probe.
The Canadian Press reported on Monday that Hockey Canada has maintained a fund that draws on minor hockey membership fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims. Hockey Canada confirmed on Tuesday that the fund exists but it would no longer be used to pay out claims over sexual assault allegations.
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