Junior hockey players in the Canadian Hockey League who have experienced abuse or hazing may have the opportunity to seek compensation through the legal system. The Ontario Superior Court has approved a process for players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL) to pursue compensation for alleged mistreatment such as abuse, bullying, or hazing incidents.
Players, both past and present, dating back to the establishment of the CHL in 1975, are eligible to file claims. The law firm, Koskie Minsky LLP, based in Toronto, is managing the claims process, with a deadline for submissions set for April 6. Gerry Antman, a partner at the firm, specializes in cases involving institutional abuse and personal injury class actions.
This legal procedure differs from a traditional class action lawsuit as players must actively apply to be part of the compensation process. Applicants are required to provide details of the abuse suffered, its impact during their childhood, and the lasting effects into adulthood.
Following the court’s decision not to certify a class action brought forward by former players against the CHL, this opt-in process was established. Antman mentioned that his firm regularly hears from former junior hockey players who have experienced abuse, including recent instances.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, an OHL spokesperson, Josh Sweetland, expressed the league and its teams’ support for the court’s initiative in creating the compensation process. The CHL and its teams have been complying with the court’s directives by posting notices about the process on their respective platforms.
Each lawsuit will name the CHL, the regional league, and the teams the plaintiff played for as defendants, with the responsibility to provide any necessary compensation. Antman emphasized the firm’s commitment to assisting individuals through the process in a supportive and trauma-informed manner, ensuring access to justice for the affected players.