CHL limited scope of survey on harassment and abuse, Kennedy testified

TSN Senior Correspondent

Follow| Archive

When an independent review panel hired by the Canadian Hockey League was drafting a survey about the prevalence of off-ice misconduct in major junior hockey, CHL officials denied a request to ask respondents about historical incidents and stipulated that the survey not include questions about sexual and physical abuse, panel member Sheldon Kennedy has testified.

Kennedy, a former NHL player and abuse survivor, made the claims during an Aug. 25, 2022, deposition in connection with a proposed class-action abuse lawsuit filed against the CHL and its three leagues.

CHL president Dan MacKenzie responded to Kennedy’s testimony in an email to TSN on Monday, writing that the organization never prohibited any questions from being asked, and defending the CHL’s decision to limit the scope of the survey. MacKenzie wrote that leaders of Canada’s three major-junior leagues wanted the panel to explore issues faced by active players, not explore historical incidents.  In a report that was presented to the CHL on Nov. 5, 2020, but not made public by the organization until Jan. 21, 2022, the panel wrote that off-ice misconduct had become a “cultural norm” in the league and that a “code of silence” exists that prevented players from disclosing their experiences.

The panel, comprised of Kennedy, former New Brunswick premier Camille Theriault, and former national team women’s hockey coach and general manager Daniele Sauvageau, concluded some players didn’t report incidents because they feared jeopardizing their careers, didn't believe anything would be done, and believed bullying is a normal part of hockey.

The panel wrote the survey's findings “supports there being a cultural issue that requires