Quebec premier demands explanation from QMJHL on 'disgusting' abuse

WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

Premier Francois Legault is calling on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to provide a public explanation after disturbing revelations in a recent Ontario court decision of sexual assault and torture suffered by teenage players.

The premier called the hazing abuse of young people detailed by the judge "very serious" and said the league cannot remain silent.

"It's disgusting, it's disgusting," Legault told reporters in Quebec City Tuesday. "It's time the Quebec Major Junior League explained themselves."

Charest said the independent complaints officer's mandate is to handle situations such as this one and noted that all sports federations must have a policy of integrity in place that ensures the environment is "free of abuse, harassment and intimidation." Moreover, Charest said that funding for the federations is linked to them enforcing their integrity policies.

The QMJHL did not immediately respond to an interview request, but commissioner Gilles Courteau told Radio-Canada that the league has had a "zero tolerance" policy against abuse since 2008.

"We have never been made aware of initiations that went wrong," Courteau said.

In a Feb. 3 decision on a class-action lawsuit, Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell described what he called "horrific and despicable and unquestionably criminal acts" inflicted on former players in Canada's three major junior hockey leagues by teammates and staff. The suit covers events in the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and QMJHL going back to 1975.

The ruling quotes from sworn statements by unidentified players describing what they