Western University women's hockey coach says she's ready to support team after player threats to boycott games

Western University's women's hockey coach, who's at the centre of a conflict that saw some players threaten to boycott games, says she's returning to the ice ready to support the team.

Candice Moxley was part of an independent investigation following players' allegations of misconduct. Some said they were forced to play while injured.

Moxley was cleared of wrongdoing last week and a strength and conditioning coach was dismissed.

"This has been a terribly difficult time — for women's hockey at Western and for me as a coach," Moxley said in an email Thursday. "I have certainly reflected during this experience and will continue to grow and better myself as a leader."

At a meeting Wednesday with university administration, students were asked for feedback on how they feel about Moxley's return. Some had sent a letter to the president's office last week in response to the results of the investigation. 

In the letter, they called into question the impartiality of the investigation by London lawyer Elizabeth Hewitt, she served in a voluntary role with the Faculty of Law.

"We had an expectation that Western University would believe us, the survivors of psychological abuse we faced from coach Moxley," the letter stated.

Western's vice-provost, John Doerksen, met with players Wednesday. He told CBC in a statement that the letter was not signed or endorsed by the entire team. Players were asked to fill out a confidential survey signalling their intentions to remain on the team this season under Moxley's leadership, he added. 

"We asked them to consider responding by today [Thursday] at 4 p.m. due to our need to plan for this weekend's games. If the team did not intend to continue, we would need to let (Ontario University Athletics)