Not all OHL teams are making players take mandatory sexual violence prevention program

WARNING: This article references sexual assault and contains graphic details, and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone impacted by it.

Nearly a decade after the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) made gender-based violence and consent training mandatory for all major junior teams, the sexual assault centres tasked with teaching the players are having trouble getting some franchises to participate, CBC News has learned. 

The OHL Onside Program was developed for junior hockey teams by two sexual assault support centres in the province. The curriculum is delivered to each OHL team by local centres that are members of the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC).

The two-hour program was made mandatory in 2016 and is to be completed at the beginning of each season. 

"When a program is labelled as mandatory but there is little to no accountability for participation or follow-through, it raises questions about the league's commitment to meaningful prevention and education," said Dina Haddish, the members' co-ordinator for the OCRCC. 

"Without consistent enforcement and evaluation, these initiatives risk becoming performative — serving more as public relations tools than as genuine efforts to shift culture, address harm or support player development."

Haddish's comments come as the sexual assault trial of five former Canadian world junior hockey players is well underway in London. The five are accused of engaging in sex acts with a woman without her consent while in London in 2018 to celebrate the gold medal they won earlier in the year. 

E.M., the complainant whose identity is protected under a standard publication ban, has testified she consented to sex with one man at the London