Source says he told police names of 2 hockey players in 2003 video of alleged sexual assault

Warning: This story contains sexually graphic details that may be disturbing to readers

Halifax police now have the names of at least two members of the 2003 World Junior hockey team who may have appeared in a video of an alleged group sexual assault nearly two decades ago, CBC News has learned.

A person who was shown a video of the alleged incident after it occurred in 2003 said that, in a recent interview with police, he reported the identities of two players he recognized in the video.

"[The video] made me sick to my stomach," the source told CBC News. "I knew what I was watching was wrong.

"I recognized two of the players and both of them went on to have NHL careers."

CBC News agreed to keep confidential the identity of the person who saw the video because he said he fears he could suffer negative repercussions, both professionally and personally.

Police launched an investigation into the sexual assault allegations in July after TSN first learned of the alleged video during the height of the Hockey Canada scandal that has rocked the sports world.

In recent months, major sponsors have cut ties with Hockey Canada, the federal government has frozen its funding and a parliamentary committee has launched public hearings on the organization's handling of sexual assault claims. 

Police in Canada are investigating three separate alleged group sexual assaults involving junior hockey players between 2003 and 2018. All three cases involve allegations that groups of players degraded a lone intoxicated woman. The allegations have not been proven in court. 

Police in London, Ont. and Quebec City reopened investigations over the past month in response to public outrage over the lack of charges.WATCH/ Quebec City police reopening