In 2018, a 24-year-old woman accused several players from the golden team that won the Junior World Cup of sexual harassment. The ice hockey association reached a settlement with the woman for a secret amount, but during the spring TV channel TSN revealed the details of the settlement.

That was the start of a scandal that seemed to be getting stronger.

Subsequently, further allegations have been made against other junior Canadian teams. Several players who represented Canada at the 2003 Junior World Cup were accused of raping a woman. The Ice Hockey Association said it was not aware of this.

The allegations, on the other hand, have led to internal investigations, sponsorship failures, police reports and have even had political ramifications.

Tried to cover

The ice hockey association has been summoned for an investigation in parliament this week into how it paid to protect the accused players.

The union admitted during questioning this week that it had used money from the fund to deal with a number of allegations of sexual harassment, Canada’s CTV reported.

The funds used are created from incoming funds, including member dues. When it is discovered that member funds have been used, it is immediately stopped.

According to the investigation, the Ice Hockey Association had paid out nearly NOK 60 million in nine different settlements since 1989, wrote CTV. Then the amount paid to the woman in 2018 is not included.

Lost credibility

– This money is used to support the victims, not the perpetrators, says the association’s financial manager Bran Cairo.

Previous payments have not been announced.

Some lawmakers said they had lost the ice hockey association’s credibility, but ice hockey president Scott Smit had no plans to resign.

– I am ready to take responsibility for changing sports. I believe that I have the experience to do it, he said in the interview.

The NHL has also started its own investigation into allegations surrounding the team at the 2018 Junior World Cup. None of the eight players in question have been named.