Hockey Canada's independent mechanisms received nearly 1,900 complaints

Hockey Canada’s independent mechanisms received nearly 1,900 complaints

Posted On: November 30, 2023

Hockey Canada said its two new independent complaint management mechanisms received nearly 1,900 potential incidents in their first year of existence, in 2022-2023.

This data is included in the most recent hockey mistreatment monitoring report sanctioned by the organization that oversees the sport in the country, and which includes cases of mistreatment, discrimination and harassment.

This document was released Thursday, and the information revealed is part of Hockey Canada’s ongoing efforts to improve the detection, treatment and follow-up of cases of abuse.

The independent third party received a total of 1,872 complaints during the first year (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023), which includes files submitted by the 13 members of Hockey Canada. Of these, 187 were accepted and processed in fullcan we read in the report.

This therefore means that more than 1,400 complaints did not reach the necessary seriousness threshold. As a result, they were redirected to provincial or territorial organizations for assessment.

This corresponds to almost one complaint per 200 hockey players in the country.

Additionally, of the 187 complaints that were upheld, more than half were related to bullying and harassment, while sexual abuse complaints were the second most commonly upheld complaints, at 19.8%, followed by . discrimination (7.5%).

The sanctioned hockey mistreatment monitoring report is an essential tool in our work to detect and stop serious behavior that has no place in hockey or in any other sport.said Natasha Johnston, vice-president of sport safety at Hockey Canada.

We continue to be transparent with the public in sharing the data we collect with the help of our members and we will use the related analyzes to better guide the actions taken collectively going forward.she added.

The release of this report comes as Hockey Canada attempts to restore its image among the population after it was tarnished by allegations of sexual assault involving Junior Team Canada players in 2013 and 2018. Allegations have not yet been proven in court.

Hockey Canada said 550,137 players were members of its organization in 2022-23, and said those playing in the QMJHLIOH and there WHLas well as those playing in adult recreational leagues, were not counted in this report.

As a result, there would be a total of 480,680 players in the country.

Of the 1,872 complaints received by Hockey Canada’s independent third party, the report indicates that 1,057 were filed by a relative or guardian, and that 598 were made by a sports association.

Mechanisms for counting cases of mistreatment have just been developed and have recently been refined, the report says. Tracking systems across the hockey ecosystem will continue to improve, improving reporting accuracy over time.

The Hockey Canada report defines mistreatment as a deliberate act and/or omission that results or may result in physical or psychological harm. This can be psychological, physical, neglectful or sexual in nature, and can also include bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Sexual orientation and gender identity have been, by far, the most common types of discrimination over the past two seasons, with both the under-18 and under-15 age categories reporting the most. overwhelming majority of violations.

The report also states that 1,624 documented or alleged incidents of on-ice discrimination were reported last season, an increase from 927 contained in the national federation’s first report on mistreatment in 2021-22. The sports organization claims that improved awareness, education and denunciation processes could explain this increase.

The 18-page document also noted that the Office of the Sports Integrity Commissioner (OCIS) received 25 hockey-related complaints in the first year (June 20, 2022 to June 30, 2023), of which 24 deemed inadmissible. and one for which the competent organization had not yet been determined.

Hockey Canada became a signatory to the government-backed program Sports Without Abuse in October 2022.

We are committed to expanding reporting on mistreatment in sanctioned hockey for the 2023-2024 season as well as preventing and adequately addressing incidents of mistreatment in sanctioned hockey programsJohnston said in a press release.

As we continue to increase our awareness efforts and opportunities for confident reporting, the number of incidents of abuse reported on and off the ice is expected to increase.she concluded.