Agent of WJC player says client saw what happened in 2018 but 'did not know how to process what was going on'

The alleged sexual assault of a women by members of Canada's 2018 gold medal winning World Juniors team has one agent speaking out on behalf of his client. In an interview with TSN.ca, in which the names of the agent and player are withheld, the agent said his client was unsure of what he saw in a London hotel room in June of 2018 and wasn't sure how to react.

"My guy got a text message from one of his teammates that there was a party going on with pizza, so he went up to the room," the agent told TSN's Rick Westhead. "He did not know how to process what was going on when he saw what was happening in the room. He did not know if this was consensual group sex or if it was a sexual assault."

As for any questions over whether his client should have said something or attempted to intervene, the agent said that carried huge risks for his client.

"It's true that he did not intervene and say stop. You can judge him for not intervening. What would you do in the same situation when you were a teenager? Is this something he should lose his career and reputation over?"

This all stems from a lawsuit that was filed against Hockey Canada by a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by eight players while attending an event that included members of Team Canada's gold-medal winning squad from back in January. The lawsuit claimed all eight were members of Team Canada and/or players in the Canadian Hockey League (which represents the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). The lawsuit was settled by Hockey Canada before it ever reached the courts, and London Police closed the case. However, that case has now been reopened. The eight players were never named in the suit, or publicly. Several members of Canada's 2018 World Junior team have either stated themselves or through their agents that they weren't involved.

The anonymous agent said his client has cooperated with police.

"My guy has already spoken with police [in 2018] and he was completely honest with them, and he will be honest when police speak with him again. My understanding is that police will be travelling to do interviews with players in person over the next few weeks."

Hockey Canada has been accused of not handling this situation well. It is believed that handling was at least partly responsible for low attendance at the World Junior Championships in Alberta this summer. The time of year most certainly contributed as well.

Source: TSN.ca

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