Junior hockey players in the Canadian Hockey League who have experienced abuse or hazing may have the opportunity to seek compensation through legal channels. The Ontario Superior Court has recently approved a process for players who participated in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL) to pursue compensation for alleged mistreatment, harassment, or hazing incidents.
Current and former players, dating back to 1975 when the CHL was founded, are eligible to file claims. The law firm Koskie Minsky LLP, based in Toronto, is overseeing the handling of these claims, with a deadline set for April 6 for submissions.
Gerry Antman, a lawyer and partner at the firm, specializes in cases of institutional abuse and class actions related to personal injuries. He highlighted the unique aspect of this process compared to a typical class action lawsuit, as players must actively apply to be part of the proceedings.
Applicants are required to provide detailed accounts of the abuse they endured, its effects on them during their childhood and continuing into adulthood. This opt-in process follows the Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s decision not to certify a class action proposed by former players against the CHL.
Antman mentioned that his firm regularly receives contacts from ex-junior hockey players who recount instances of mistreatment, including recent experiences. However, he refrained from divulging specific details of the alleged incidents due to their graphic nature.
OHL spokesperson Josh Sweetland communicated via email to CBC that both the CHL and its affiliated teams endorse the court’s initiative in establishing the opt-in process. He mentioned that the league and its teams have been complying with the court’s directives by disseminating information about the process on their respective platforms.
Antman confirmed that each lawsuit would name the CHL, the relevant regional league, and the specific team or teams the plaintiff played for as defendants. Ultimately, these entities would be accountable for any potential compensation payouts.
“Our team is committed to supporting individuals through this process to ensure that they can access justice in a manner that is empathetic and trauma-informed,” Antman added.
