Former Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players say they went through hell during rites of passage in their early days in junior hockey and say in court documents and cross-examination with the court that they suffered torture and ill-treatment.
In his Monday morning column, Radio-Canada journalist Martin Leclerc, who got his hands on the documents, wrote the testimonies of anonymous players who were humiliated, disturbed or even raped by CHL teammates.
Recall that earlier in February, Judge Paul Perrell denied a class action motion filed by former players Daniel Carcillo, Garrett Taylor and Stephen Quirk.
The magistrate had argued that the appeal was not appropriate for this type of complaint.
“A hockey player who is a victim of abuse can sue the team and league he was a member of. However, [la LHJMQ, l’OHL, la WHL et les 60 clubs qui constituent la LCH] are separate and independent legal entities with their own governance structures,” the judge said in a 103-page report dated Feb. 4.
Many of the testimonies found by Crown Corporation are very difficult to read.
“I felt them urinating on me and throwing things at me. They wrapped a rope around my penis. They threw the rope over a pole above me and attached a swaddle to the other end of the rope,” said one player, identified as “AA.”
Another athlete, still according to Radio-Canada, said he was tortured by the team’s veterans, and when the coach saw his players’ actions, “he came out laughing.”
One player explained that heating analgesic cream was forcibly inserted into his anus and down his urethra, covering his genitals.
He, along with several others, said he had a hockey stick shoved up his anus. The same young man confessed to being sexually assaulted about 40 times within nine months of the trafficking.
Earlier this month, the CHL said it was “happy” that a resolution had been found in the class action case.
Plaintiffs have not yet announced whether they intend to appeal Judge Perrell’s decision.