2022 WJC at risk of being canceled following other gang rape allegations

The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship was originally scheduled for Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. After four days of play, the tournament was postponed Dec. 29 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. It is now set to run Aug. 9-20, with all games at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

But it could change…

There is a sense that the championship could be canceled following another alleged case of sexual assault that was brought up to Hockey Canada on Thursday.

On Friday, Hockey Canada made a statement about the information they received from TSN’s Rick Westhead, learning of an alleged group sexual assault from 2003 involving members of the 2002-03 National Junior Team.

“Mr. Westhead informed Hockey Canada he has spoken to multiple witnesses who provided him with explicit descriptions of an assault, following an interview with Conservative MP John Nater who is in possession of the same or similar information.”

MP John Nater is a member of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which heard testimony from Hockey Canada officials on June 20 about 2018 sexual assault allegations and their handling of a lawsuit settled in May. Another set of hearings is schedule for July 26-27. The organization says it remains in contact with the Halifax Regional Police upon learning of the allegations (Halifax co-hosted the 2003 world junior championship) and also made Sport Canada aware of the situation.

Before finding out about the incident, Hockey Canada staff had “heard a rumour about ‘something bad at the 2003 World Juniors’” but did not have details.

This is so messy at Hockey Canada. I would completely understand if the plug was pulled on the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton!