Junior hockey players allegedly at party where women assaulted
A group of Canadian junior hockey players have been allegedly tied to a party in which multiple sexual assaults are alleged to have occurred.
By
Chris Peters
•
2 min read
A Canadian junior hockey team has allegedly been tied to a party at which multiple sexual assaults were alleged to have occurred. According to a report from Canadian news service QMI Agency, allegedly about 10 members of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Cobourg Cougars were in attendance at a weekend party that has brought about a “major investigation” from the Ontario Provincial Police.
The authorities are currently looking into postings to social media sites that may shed light on what happened. QMI Agency also reported that four young women were allegedly sexually assaulted at the party.
A number of postings are on social media including one of a trophy that appears similar to the Stanley Cup with the plaque reading "Cobourg Cougars Classic" and the statement below it reading "Whoever hooked up with the most broads last night gets the cup" and the hashtag #consentisoverrated.
"We are tracking social media. We are on top of that," Acting Sgt.Kelly Daniels said.
Due to the young age of some of the persons allegedly involved and the sensitive nature of the allegations under investigation, further information will only be provided at the completion of a thorough investigation, the OPP said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.
"This could be a far-reaching investigation," Daniels said.
Cobourg Cougars GM Brent Tully issued the following statement to 90.5 Extra Sports Talk Radio Wednesday morning:
The Cobourg Cougars are very proud of our longstanding reputation in the community and we work hard to support our entire team from players to staff to billets and fans. When allegations of any nature are made, we take them all very seriously. In this case, none of the allegations made have been proven, nor has the hockey club been contacted with regards to any investigation. In the event that this changes, we will participate fully and are committed to doing so. In the meantime, we have used this as an opportunity to remind our players about respect and appropriate behaviors.
The Cougars recently advanced to the second round of the OJHL playoffs. The dates for their series against the Trenton Golden Hawks have not yet been announced. The league has not yet issued a public statement regarding the police investigation.
The allegations regarding this party are more in a disturbingly long line of sexual assault allegations against junior and college hockey players throughout the U.S. and Canada over the last few years.
In late February, Gatineau Police received a formal complaint alleging indecent acts at a local restaurant involving multiple members of the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. There was another sexual assault complaint filed against Olympiques players just this week alleging that four players assaulted a woman in a Quebec City hotel January 2014.
Last summer, two members of the Lincoln (Neb.) Stars of the United States Hockey League were charged with filming sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl at a Moorhead, Minn., hotel and later sharing the video, breaking multiple child pornography laws. They are still awaiting trial.
In August, two former University of Ottawa players were charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in February of 2014. The university suspended the entire hockey team following the accusations.
This list could unfortunately go on.
