Trudeau rips Hockey Canada leadership over sex assault fund

BOWEN ISLAND, B.C. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it's "hard for anyone" to have faith in Hockey Canada's leadership as revelations emerge about how the federation maintains a fund meant to partially handle sexual abuse claims.

Speaking to reporters in B.C. today, Trudeau says the fund is "totally unacceptable."

Hockey Canada has been under fire since May when news broke that the organization quietly settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges she was assaulted by eight unnamed players, including members of the country's 2018 world junior team, following a gala in London, Ont., four years.

Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith testified on Parliament Hill last month that no government money was used in the settlement. The woman had been seeking more than $3.5 million in damages.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

St. Louis Blue forward Robert Thomas, one of the members of the 2018 world junior team, released a statement on social media Tuesday saying he had no involvement in the alleged incident. Four other members of the team — Cale Makar, Victor Mete, Conor Timmins and Jonah Gadjovich — have also publicly stated they weren't involved.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2022.