As police investigate alleged group sexual assaults involving members of the 2003 and 2018 Canadian men’s world junior hockey teams, 39-year-old Erin Schnare said she is on the fence about allowing her children to register for the upcoming hockey season.
Schnare lives in Halifax with her husband and three children. Her eldest son, who is about to turn seven, has been playing hockey for nearly two years, while her three-year-old daughter will soon be eligible for enrollment.
“I don’t know if I’ll put them in this year, I’m struggling with it,” she told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on Thursday. “What if things don’t change?”
The scandal stretches back to May of this year when Hockey Canada reached a settlement with a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted in London, Ont. by several members of the Canadian world junior hockey team. The incident allegedly took place in 2018. In June, the federal government froze its funding to Hockey Canada and major sponsors, such as Scotiabank and Telus, also pressed pause on their financial support.
Since then, another allegation of group sexual assault has surfaced involving members of the Canadian world junior hockey team in 2003.
After hearing about the allegations, Schnare said she was “disgusted,” which puts her in a difficult position when deciding whether to let her children play hockey. Her son loves to play and her daughter loves to watch, she said. While she doesn’t want them to miss out on participating in the sport they love, Schnare said she worries about the ethics behind allowing her children to play, and the message this might send to Hockey Canada.
“If I keep putting my kids in hockey, am I really helping to facilitate change or am I just going along, status quo?” she said. “Are they going to interpret that as me not caring about what they did or that I agree with it? I hope not.”
A number of Canadian parents reached out to CTVNews.ca expressing concerns with enrolling their children in hockey, due to the sexual assault allegations involving Hockey Canada.
Schnare’s biggest concerns involve the culture around the sport, which she described as one that enables misogynistic behaviour. Scott Smith, president and CEO of Hockey Canada, acknowledged some of these concerns in a parliamentary committee hearing on July 27.
“Hockey Canada understands Canadians’ trust in us has been eroded and we are committed to take every action possible to earn it back,” Smith said at the hearing. “I know you … want answers and you want to see real action taken to end the culture of silence that allows toxic behaviour and sexism to fester in corners of our game. I do too.”
Rhonni Bonn, a single mother who lives in Westbank First Nation, in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, said the surfacing of these allegations have caused her to lose trust in the organization.
“These are young men that are doing things that they shouldn’t be doing,” she told CTVNews.ca on Sunday in a telephone interview. “They’re there to be positive, inspirational role models … to young children, and they’re really not.”
Since registration for the fall hockey season opened in June, Bonn said she and her 12-year-old son have been discussing whether he should enroll. With these allegations now top of mind, Bonn said her son has decided not to play this year.
“He’s not going to play hockey because … he’s disappointed,” Bonn said. “He didn’t like that that was going on … and he didn’t agree with it. He’s looking forward to taking a break.”
Bonn, 49, said her son has played in the West Kelowna minor hockey league for five years now. Despite enjoying the sport and spending time with his teammates, he refuses to play in the upcoming season after hearing about the allegedly disrespectful behaviour shown to women by members of the Canadian world junior hockey teams, a decision Bonn said she supports.
“I’m a single mom trying to raise a young boy to respect women, and these people in the hockey association don’t,” she said. “It’s a big turnoff. Why would I support rape culture? I’d rather send him somewhere else.”
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Candice Mansour said if it was up to her, she wouldn’t let her three children participate in hockey in the fall, particularly her 10-year-old daughter whose hockey team forms part of the Canterbury Hockey Association in Ottawa. But with her husband unlikely to be on board, chances are they will still be registered to play.
“I have lost total trust,” the 49-year-old mother told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on Thursday. “[But] I will be forced to put them in, should he and the kids desire it. My voice alone will not be enough in my household.”
The culture of silence within the sport is what concerns her the most, Mansour said. Accountability for poor behaviour should be addressed starting at the grassroots level, she said.
“The hockey community is one [where] even if parents have a concern, they don’t come forward with it … because they don’t believe that they’ll be heard,” Mansour said.
Additionally, to see membership fees being used to pay for sexual assault settlements and related legal fees is frustrating, she said.
“Having been on the Canterbury Community Association’s board of directors, we’re always scraping for money and worrying [whether] we can buy our kids water bottles and meanwhile, there’s all this money being funnelled away for legal fees and other things,” Mansour said. “How could that benefit our kids?”
Among the questions posed by MPs to executive members of Hockey Canada during the hearing was one from Lisa Hepfner, member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain in Ontario, about whether or not using the fund to settle sexual assault claims allows potential perpetrators to escape accountability, ultimately perpetuating the problem.
“This money is used to support the victims of the individuals, not the perpetrator,” said Brian Cairo, chief financial officer of Hockey Canada, at the hearing. “We feel very strongly that we need to support those victims.”
In terms of whether or not parents should be concerned about enrolling their children in hockey, the organization said families can be assured that Hockey Canada is taking the appropriate steps to foster a respectful culture by addressing toxic behaviours both on and off the ice, and encouraging participants to speak out when something is wrong.
“We have heard the anger and disappointment of Canadians, and in particular the parents of the hockey players that Hockey Canada represents,” Esther Madziya, communications manager for Hockey Canada, wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on Friday. “Children come first, and parents can take comfort in knowing that as part of the steps we are taking, structures like the Universal Code of Conduct to Address Maltreatment in Sports (UCCMS) are in place to protect every athlete.”
This includes the administration of education and training designed to create a safer sporting environment for players, coaches, employees and volunteers, according to an action plan recently released by the organization. These efforts are in addition to a full review of Hockey Canada and its National Equity Fund, overseen by an independent third party. Throughout the process, Hockey Canada will be subject to a series of checks and balances, including public reporting and tracking.
“Canadians have been clear – they expect those representing our national sport to do better,” Smith said. “We own it and we will do better to deliver on our responsibilities to Canadians.”
Hockey Canada has also announced it will no longer use its National Equity Fund to settle sexual assault claims. The fund will instead be used to provide insurance for hockey players, as well as counselling and treatment, criminal record checks of Hockey Canada staff, and additional support for players who suffer physical injuries, said the statement from Madziya.
The organization is also reopening the investigation into the allegation of sexual assault involving the Canadian men’s world junior hockey team in 2018, followed by a referral to an independent panel of judges to determine consequences.
“We do not take the trust parents put in Hockey Canada for granted, and we know the actions we are taking now should have been taken sooner,” said Madziya’s statement. “We also understand that trust is earned not given and we will work relentlessly to earn back what has been lost.”
A PATH FORWARD
While Schnare remains unsure whether her children will participate in hockey in the fall, she said she hopes to see Hockey Canada do more to change the culture around the sport in Canada so that players don’t see themselves as “above others.” She also wants to see the organization take more accountability for its role in facilitating this attitude and acknowledging it has a responsibility to find a solution, she said.
“They should be moulding [these boys] into great people, not just great hockey players,” she said.
Bonn said she would like to see those involved in the allegations be held accountable, and hopes to see a greater emphasis placed on mental health among those in the sport.
For Mansour, the solution lies in continuing to speak out against poor behaviour exhibited within the sport, she said, and organizations such as Hockey Canada shouldn’t be showing tolerance for disrespectful conduct.
“I don’t know what the solution is other than people coming forward,” she said. “Difficult conversations are necessary … for bad behaviour.”
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Baltimore Ravens overcome an early double-digit deficit and extend their National Football League winning streak to five games with a 41-31 victory Monday night over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost their top two receivers to injuries.
The two-time NFL MVP improved to 23-1 against NFC teams, the best mark by a quarterback against an opposing conference in NFL history. He’s 3-0 against the Bucs (4-3), who faded after taking a 10-0 lead with help from the 100th TD reception of Mike Evans’ career.
Evans departed with a hamstring injury after Baker Mayfield tried to connect with him in the end zone again, and late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach, leading Bucs receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field with a left ankle injury. ESPN declined to show replays of Godwin’s injury, which appeared to be severe.
Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes without an interception, including TD throws of nine and four yards to Mark Andrews. He also tossed scoring passes of 49 yards to Rashod Bateman, 18 yards to Justice Hill and 11 yards to Derrick Henry, who rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries. Bateman had four catches for 121 yards.
The Ravens (5-2) rebounded from a slow start on defence, with cornerback Marlon Humphrey turning the game around with a pair of second-quarter interceptions — one of them in the Baltimore end zone. Jackson led a four-play, 80-yard TD drive after the first pick, and the second interception set up Justin Tucker’s 28-yard field goal for a 17-10 halftime lead.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
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CARDINALS 17 CHARGERS 15
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray ran for a 44-yard touchdown and led the Cardinals on a drive that set up Chad Ryland’s 32-yard field goal as time expired, and Arizona rallied for a win over Los Angeles.
Cameron Dicker kicked his fifth field goal of the night — this one from 40 yards — to give the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 left. But the Cardinals (3-4) quickly moved into field goal range, aided by an unnecessary roughness call on Cam Hart that cost Los Angeles (3-3) 15 yards.
Arizona followed that with a bruising 33-yard run by James Conner, who finished with 101 yards on the ground. That eventually set up Ryland’s short field goal and a Cardinals celebration.
It was a frustrating night for the Chargers’ offence, which gained 395 yards but couldn’t find the end zone. Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards.
Dicker booted field goals of 59, 50, 28, 47 and 40 yards, the first of which tied a franchise record for distance.
Murray ran for a spectacular touchdown early in the fourth quarter, rolling to his left before turning on the jets, beating safety Junior Colston to the sideline and then coasting into the end zone for a 14-9 lead.
It was Murray’s second long touchdown run in three weeks after he scored on a 50-yard sprint against San Francisco. It was also Murray’s 20th career game with a touchdown pass and run.
Murray completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have been here before — literally and figuratively.
With the season hanging in the balance, the ‘Caps were dealt a blow last week when the club learned it wouldn’t be able to play a post-season wild-card game in its home stadium, B.C. Place, due to a scheduling conflict.
The Whitecaps ceded home field advantage to their regional rival, the Portland Timbers. The two clubs will battle for the final playoff spot in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference in Oregon on Wednesday.
The winner will face No. 1-seed Los Angeles FC in a best-of-three first-round series, starting Sunday.
An unforeseen hurdle like a change of venues is nothing new for the ‘Caps, said defender Ranko Veselinovic, who was part of the team that was forced to relocate first to Portland, then Utah during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels that always something happens for us, but it is what it is. So far, we’ve managed to always find solutions for those situations,” said the Serbian centre back. “But I hope this team can find it one more time, because we need it this time. And it will be a really nice feeling in those circumstances to go in, win and go face L.A. in the next round.”
Vancouver (13-13-8) heads into the post-season winless in its last seven MLS games and with losses in four straight after dropping a 2-1 road decision to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
The skid followed a run that saw the club go 4-1-3 across all competitions between late August and late September.
There’s just one way to return to that level, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.
“The work is the only way to do it. Try to put the work in and try to put the team in a way that they’re going to regain the form and the way that they were in the past,” he said.
Despite the final score, Sartini has seen positives in the way his team played in its two most recent losses.
“I think already we turned the corner,” he said. “And we start from there to build and build and build.”
Facing challenges together can help a team build, whether it’s a winless skid or an unexpected hurdle, said Vancouver’s captain Ryan Gauld.
“When you’re going through adversity, that’s when people start to raise their voice a little bit. You get good when the problems arise, you get a lot of people coming together to make sure we get out of it,” said the Scottish attacking midfielder.
“And we’ve had a tough time the last few games, but everyone’s aware of the fact that we’re a much better team than we’ve shown, and we need to find a way to get back to doing what we’re good at.”
The ‘Caps face a familiar foe in the Timbers (12-11-11).
The two sides have already met three times this season, with each coming out of the series with a win, a loss and a draw.
Portland has also struggled in recent weeks and are winless in their last five MLS outings (0-1-4).
The Timbers boast one of the league’s top offensive units, though, with threats such as Evander. The Brazilian midfielder notched 15 goals and 19 assists during the regular season.
To earn a win on Wednesday, the Whitecaps must be solid defensively, Gauld said.
“They must be one of the best attacks in the league. They have a lot of good players, and they can hurt you if you switch off,” he said. “So just being concentrated from the first whistle, and just being hard to beat, being stuffy. Just being on it for the full 90 minutes.”
A victory in the wild-card match would guarantee Vancouver at least one home playoff game, a factor that Sartini said would be a big reward for his group.
The entire team relished the experience of playing post-season soccer in front of more than 30,000 fans last year, the coach said, and the desire to repeat the feat is high as the club heads to Portland.
“Everyone is happy to be in the playoffs. So we don’t have to be moody to be in the playoff. And we go in there, we’re play one of our rivals. So it’s gonna be a nice game to show up and to play our best game possible.”
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-13-8) AT PORTLAND TIMBERS (12-11-11)
Wednesday, Providence Park
HISTORY BOOKS: This will mark the seventh all-time post-season meeting between the Timbers and ‘Caps, dating back to 1975. The last time the two clubs squared off in a playoff game was during the Western Conference semifinal in 2015. Portland won the two-game aggregate series and went on to hoist the MLS Cup.
ROAD WARRIORS: The ‘Caps boasted a 7-6-4 record on the road during regular-season play — better than the 6-7-4 showing they posted at B.C. Place.
POST-SEASON PARTY: Wednesday will mark the first time the Timbers have hosted a post-season game since 2021.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland conceived rugby sevens in the 1880s yet it will not feature in the scaled-back 2026 Commonwealth Games hosted by Glasgow.
Other sports that have also been dropped include field hockey, triathlon, badminton, Twenty20 cricket, squash, and diving.
The Games will have a 10-sport program in four venues. Athletics and swimming are compulsory while there will also be track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball.
There will also be integrated para events in six of those sports: Athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, bowls and basketball.
The Games will take place from July 23-Aug. 2 after Glasgow stepped in when the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year because of rising costs.
It was not easy to decide which sports to include, Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Ian Reid told the BBC on Tuesday.
“I think everybody recognises that these events need to be more affordable, lighter and we would have loved to have all of our sports and all of our athletes competing but unfortunately it’s just not deliverable or affordable for this time frame,” Reid said.
Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotels. Around 3,000 athletes are expected to compete from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories representing a combined total of 2.5 billion people, a third of the world’s entire population.
More than 500,000 tickets made available for spectators.
The Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Katie Sadleir said: “The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow, an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact. In doing so, increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting.”
Glasgow hosted the event in 2014 at a cost of more than 540 million pounds.
