London, Ont. lawyer at centre of Hockey Canada scandal says toxic culture starts in local rinks

The London, Ont. lawyer, whose client's sexual assault allegations against junior hockey players kick-started a reckoning around the national organization that represents the sport, wants Canadians to consider their own views around hockey.

Rob Talach's client's received a $3.5-million out-of-court settlement after alleging that eight players, including members of Canada's world junior team, sexually assaulted, humiliated and degraded her at a hotel room in London in 2018.

Since then, a parliamentary committee has found Hockey Canada has paid $8.9 million to 21 complainants since 1989.

This past week, corporate sponsors including Nike, Chevrolet Canada, Scotiabank and Canadian Tire suspended their support for Hockey Canada, and multiple provincial organizations announced they would withhold players' fees from the organization. 

Talach, who has been watching events unfold since he made his client's case public in April, said he hopes Hockey Canada will reform but said shifting hockey culture lies with parents, players and fans. 

"The buck doesn't stop with Hockey Canada. I think people are really upset here because there's a lot of soul searching and looking in the mirror. If there's a stink about hockey in Canada, it starts at your local arena," said Talach.

"It starts at how you view players and how players act. It is not totally the responsibility of a board of old men. It is how we all treat hockey players and how they act. There's a huge problem there."

Talach points out that hockey players are treated like stars, when their role is to provide entertainment. 

"They're grossly overpaid and over worshipped and this may be the reckoning moment to say, 'why do we do that?'," said Talach. "Without the worship, they aren't