Major junior hockey may be forced to confront some dark moments in its history in a class-action lawsuit.

Former NHL and Sarnia Sting player Daniel Carcillo is spearheading the lawsuit against the Canadian Hockey League and its member teams on behalf of players who allege abuse while playing major junior hockey.

Carcillo, who played in the Ontario Hockey League between 2002-05, and Garrett Taylor, who played in the Western Hockey League from 2008-10, filed a statement of claim June 18 with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The CHL and its three member organizations — the WHL, OHL and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League — are listed as defendants, as are all 60 teams.

A statement from Koskie Minsky LLP, the law firm representing Carcillo and Taylor, said the action “is on behalf of children aged 15-17 who were sexually and physically assaulted, hazed and otherwise abused while away from home and playing for CHL teams.”

The allegations haven’t been proven in court.

The claim was filed the same week former Kitchener Rangers player Eric Guest told The Hockey News as a rookie he was forced by an older teammate to use cocaine at a party. Guest said he never told anyone in the Rangers’ organization.

On Friday, the CHL announced it will form an independent panel to review league policies and practices related to hazing, abuse, harassment and bullying and the allegation players don’t feel comfortable reporting behaviours that contravene these policies.

“We are deeply troubled,” a CHL statement read, “by the allegations in the recently announced class action, many of which are historic in nature and we believe are not indicative of the leading experience our players receive in the CHL today. Regardless of the timing, we are taking the claims very seriously as the protection of our players has been and will always be our primary concern.”

The CHL said each year its teams are charged with the care and safety of 1,400 young men and is committed to ensuring an environment that is players first and free of hazing, abuse, harassment and bullying and provides zero tolerance for any of these behaviours.

“The CHL and its member leagues have made a number of advancements to enhance our player experience programs over the past 20 years,” states the release. “We have been working with organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, Canadian Red Cross and Respect in Sport to develop extensive policies and practices to educate players and team staff on the importance of respect and prevention of hazing, abuse, harassment and bullying.”

CHL teams conduct annual player conduct and safety training involving procedures for filing a complaint without fear of reprisal. It includes advising a coach, general manager, police liaison, player liaison or a governor or league official. If criminal conduct is involved, players are encouraged to contact police.

“We believe these programs protect our players and ensure that everyone associated with our teams understand that the type of misconduct alleged is not tolerated,” stated the CHL.

The CHL hopes the independent review will be completed prior to the 2020-21 season.

“We welcome the findings of the Independent Review Panel to ensure we are providing the safest player experience in hockey and amateur sport,” stated the release.

The lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and a declaration that the teams and leagues are vicariously liable for abuse perpetrated by their employees and players.

“This case is on behalf of underage minors who suffered violent hazing, physical and sexual assault and psychological trauma while playing major junior hockey,” Carcillo said in a statement. “I was one of those kids when I played in the OHL. I know there are many more just like me.”

Thursday: What are the Peterborough Petes doing to prevent abuse?

A Mount Royal University student and the former captain of its hockey team has been charged in a brutal attack on an MRU professor after a break-in at her Calgary home last weekend, CBC News has learned. 

Originally from Truro, N.S., Matthew Brown, 26, is facing charges of assault with a weapon and break-and-enter after a faculty member was brutalized with a broom handle, according to sources. The business student, who used to play in the QMJHL, is currently suspended and not allowed on campus, according to the university.

The victim, who is in her mid-60s, has a broken hand, requires surgery and also suffered torn tendons and severe bruising. 

Naked man broke into home

“[She] is understandably terrified and it will take a long time for her to get over this trauma,” said a family spokesperson. “It’s affecting every aspect of her life.”

CBC News has agreed not to name the victim, who fears for her safety. 

The woman lives in the community of Springbank Hill in southwest Calgary. Her family says the suspect had been at a nearby party.

The victim woke from a deep sleep after what sounded like an explosion, which was her glass door being smashed. She got up to investigate and was immediately attacked by a naked man who hit her repeatedly with a broom handle.

“It was very violent,” said one of the woman’s family members.

She was able to lock herself in the bathroom and then fled to a neighbour’s house where they let her in and called 911.

The family has been told police believe the suspect may have been on drugs at the time of the attack.

Banned from campus

The Mount Royal connection “appears to be a coincidence” the university claimed in an email to staff, which says there is no indication the two had ever met or that the attack was targeted.

“Our first and foremost concern is for the well-being of the victim, who was injured and is now at home recuperating,” reads the email.

Brown is suspended “and will not be permitted on campus or at MRU events during the course of the suspension,” according to an email sent to all university staff.

The family points out the victim “dedicated her life to Mount Royal students.” She is off work for at least the rest of the semester while she recovers.

The family has thanked Mount Royal colleagues and faculty for the “heartwarming” outpouring of support they’ve received since the attack.

Brown captain of Mount Royal team

Brown began playing on the Mount Royal team in 2012 and was captain from 2014 until last year.

Before arriving in Calgary, Brown — who is six feet tall and weighs 200 pounds — played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), first with the Moncton Wildcats from 2008 to 2010 and then with the Quebec Remparts, where he was “brought up under the wing of legendary NHL Hall-of-Famer goalie, Patrick Roy,” according to a profile written on Brown last year in the Calgary Journal.

Brown has been released on bail.

A former William Penn basketball standout and Dover High School girl’s junior varsity basketball coach is facing charges after allegedly being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Aignee Freeland, 23, is charged with institutional sexual assault and contact/communication with a minor.

Freeland was a star basketball player at William Penn High School until graduating in 2011.

She moved on to Edinboro University where she played until 2016, when Freeland signed to play professionally in Romania.

Freeland was Dover High School’s junior varsity coach this season, but was not on the bench during a game last week without explanation.

Head Coach Kevin Glover was also not in attendance.

According to the criminal complaint, Freeland had a relationship with a player and student at Dover High School.

On December 20, a York County CY&F caseworker and Northern York County Regional Police detective responded to the student’s residence and spoke with her mother about the relationship.

The victim’s mother told police that the victim had contact with Freeland via the phone, including text messages, Facetime and other forms of communication.

The victim’s mother consented to the victim’s phone being searched, and a forensic analysis was completed on the device.

The phone showed that contact had taken place between Freeland the victim, with video calls being made on December 18 & 19 at various times. In total, 18 video calls were made on the two dates.

The victim was interviewed at York County Children’s Advocacy Center on January 4. The victim said that she and Freeland started communicating via Snapchat and texting.

She also said that she met Freeland on multiple occasions after basketball practices, meeting at agreed upon locations in Dover Borough, Dover Township and Manchester Township.

During the meetings, the victim said they would get in Freeland’s car and talk, and Freeland would touch her “all over her body.”

This allegedly occurred on more than one occasion, and the two would talk about their encounters later via text.

The victim admitted to deleting the texts and conversations between herself in Freeland, with both being aware that Freeland could be in trouble if anyone found out about the relationship.

According to the criminal complaint, both the victim and Freeland agreed not to tell anyone.

Dover Area School District released this statement on the charges:

It has come to the attention of the Dover Area School District that a coach of the District has been arrested and charged with one count of Institutional Sexual Assault and one count of Unlawful Contact with a Minor – Sexual Offenses. It is unfortunate to have these types of situations occur in a school setting; however, the Board of Directors and the Administration of the district want to assure the parents, students, and public that they do not condone such actions by its employees. It should be noted that while this individual was a coach in the district, they were not a teacher in the district. The community should be aware that once these allegations were made known to the District Administration, the coach was removed from her assignment and suspended from participating in school activities. The Administration contacted the appropriate local and state authorities and have cooperated in the investigation of these allegations. Furthermore, counseling has been arranged for the students and due to privacy rights afforded the individual, the District nor its representatives cannot release any further details of the matter. The Board of Directors want to be very clear, the protection of students is paramount and they will take all appropriate actions to accomplish this objective.

The District asks that all future inquiries about this matter be directed to the Superintendent’s office.

This is a developing story. FOX43 will provide details as they become available.

YORK COUNTY, Pa.– A former William Penn basketball standout and Dover High School girl’s junior varsity basketball coach is facing charges after allegedly being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Aignee Freeland, 23, is charged with institutional sexual assault and contact/communication with a minor.

Freeland was a star basketball player at William Penn High School until graduating in 2011.

She moved on to Edinboro University where she played until 2016, when Freeland signed to play professionally in Romania.

Freeland was Dover High School’s junior varsity coach this season, but was not on the bench during a game last week without explanation.

Head Coach Kevin Glover was also not in attendance.

According to the criminal complaint, Freeland had a relationship with a player and student at Dover High School.

On December 20, a York County CY&F caseworker and Northern York County Regional Police detective responded to the student’s residence and spoke with her mother about the relationship.

The victim’s mother told police that the victim had contact with Freeland via the phone, including text messages, Facetime and other forms of communication.

The victim’s mother consented to the victim’s phone being searched, and a forensic analysis was completed on the device.

The phone showed that contact had taken place between Freeland the victim, with video calls being made on December 18 & 19 at various times. In total, 18 video calls were made on the two dates.

The victim was interviewed at York County Children’s Advocacy Center on January 4. The victim said that she and Freeland started communicating via Snapchat and texting.

She also said that she met Freeland on multiple occasions after basketball practices, meeting at agreed upon locations in Dover Borough, Dover Township and Manchester Township.

During the meetings, the victim said they would get in Freeland’s car and talk, and Freeland would touch her “all over her body.”

This allegedly occurred on more than one occasion, and the two would talk about their encounters later via text.

The victim admitted to deleting the texts and conversations between herself in Freeland, with both being aware that Freeland could be in trouble if anyone found out about the relationship.

According to the criminal complaint, both the victim and Freeland agreed not to tell anyone.

Dover Area School District released this statement on the charges:

It has come to the attention of the Dover Area School District that a coach of the District has been arrested and charged with one count of Institutional Sexual Assault and one count of Unlawful Contact with a Minor – Sexual Offenses.  It is unfortunate to have these types of situations occur in a school setting; however, the Board of Directors and the Administration of the district want to assure the parents, students, and public that they do not condone such actions by its employees.  It should be noted that while this individual was a coach in the district, they were not a teacher in the district. The community should be aware that once these allegations were made known to the District Administration, the coach was removed from her assignment and suspended from participating in school activities.  The Administration contacted the appropriate local and state authorities and have cooperated in the investigation of these allegations.  Furthermore, counseling has been arranged for the students and due to privacy rights afforded the individual, the District nor its representatives cannot release any further details of the matter.  The Board of Directors want to be very clear, the protection of students is paramount and they will take all appropriate actions to accomplish this objective.

The District asks that all future inquiries about this matter be directed to the Superintendent’s office.

This is a developing story. FOX43 will provide details as they become available.