Collective action in LCH: extremely disturbing testimonies

Former Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players say they went through rites of passage hell in their junior hockey days, explaining in court documents and cross-examinations with the court to have suffered acts of torture and abuse. 

In his Monday morning column, Radio-Canada journalist Martin Leclerc, who got his hands on the documents, wrote down the testimonies of anonymous players who were humiliated, disturbed or even raped by teammates. of the CHL.

Recall that in early February, Judge Paul Perrell denied a class action request brought by former players Daniel Carcillo, Garrett Taylor and Stephen Quirk. < /p>

The man of justice had argued that the remedy was not suitable for this type of complaint.

“A hockey player who is the victim of abuse can sue the team and the league he was part of. However, [the LHJMQ, the OHL, the WHL and the 60 clubs that make up the CHL] are separate and independent legal entities, with their own governance structures,” said the magistrate in a 103-page report, the February 4.

Several of the testimonies recovered by the Crown corporation are very hard 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 bar above me and they attached a puck bag to the other end of the rope,” mentioned a player identified as “AA”.

Another athlete, still according to Radio-Canada, said he was tortured by the veterans of the team, and that when the coach saw the actions of his players, “he came out laughing”.

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A player explained that heating analgesic cream was forcibly inserted into his anus, into his urethra that his genitals were covered with it. 

He said, as several others had a hockey stick pushed up their anus. This same young man confessed to having been sexually assaulted about 40 times in nine months after being traded.

Earlier this month, the CHL said it was “happy” that a resolution had been reached in the class action case. 

The plaintiffs have not yet revealed whether they wish to appeal Justice Perrell's decision.