The detail is contained in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glen McCurdie, who was then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance and risk management, as part of a lawsuit brought by an injured player in Ontario. “Hockey Canada maintains a reserve in a separate account to pay for any uninsured liabilities that arise,” McCurdie’s affidavit said. It goes on to say that “uninsured liabilities include potential claims for historical sexual abuse.” Hockey Canada did not immediately respond to an email from The Canadian Press seeking comment on McCurdie’s affidavit. The sport’s national body has been under intense scrutiny since news of an alleged sexual assault broke after a 2018 gala in London, Ont., that featured eight unidentified players — including members of that year’s world junior team — and the subsequent settlement in May. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Support for survivors If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted and needs support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services. For readers in America, a list of resources and references can be found here. Scott Smith, the agency’s president and COO, and outgoing CEO Tom Renney were blasted by MPs during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage last month over both the issue and where the funds came from. settlement. McCurdy, who retired in December, did not attend the proceedings due to the death of his father, but was invited by the committee for a further round of meetings scheduled to begin next Tuesday. Hockey Canada has cut off federal funding over its handling of the case and the settlement, while some companies cut off sponsorship dollars. The organization released a carefully worded open letter Thursday with a series of promises, including a pledge to reopen a flawed third-party investigation into the alleged attack. “We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 junior national team or end the culture of toxic behavior within our game,” Hockey Canada wrote last week. “For that we apologize unreservedly.” Smith, who took over from Renney as CEO on July 1, testified on Parliament Hill last month that Hockey Canada has reported three sexual-assault complaints in recent years, including the London incident, but would not discuss the other two in court of the committee. He added that there had been as many as two allegations of sexual misconduct each of the past five or six years. Hockey Canada said in its open letter that player participation in the third-party investigation into the London incident will be mandatory — unlike before — and that anyone who refuses will be barred from all activities and programs. Smith testified last month “12 or 13” of the 19 players were interviewed before the initial and incomplete investigation concluded in September 2020. The woman who made the assault claim was seeking just over $3.5 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the unnamed players. The woman’s lawyer said in an email last week that his client, who was not involved in the initial investigation or spoke to police, “will be participating in the investigation for Hockey Canada and will not be commenting to the media at this time.” Details of the settlement have not been made public, but Smith testified to MPs last month that Hockey Canada liquidated a portion of its investments to pay for the settlement, adding that no public money was used. Sports Minister Pascal St-Onge has ordered an audit to make sure this is indeed the case. The NHL also conducts an investigation because some of the players are in the league, but does not make participation mandatory. The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is set to meet Tuesday and Wednesday next week to hear a long list of witnesses, including McCurdie. The committee requested and received a redacted copy of the non-disclosure agreement related to the settlement along with a long list of Hockey Canada communications by Friday’s deadline. Arizona Coyotes linebacker Conor Timmins, a member of the 2018 world junior team, became the latest player to deny involvement in the alleged attack on Monday. “No one is claiming that I was present or involved and I have no personal knowledge of what happened,” Timmins said in a statement released on social media by his agency, Quartexx Hockey. “I have cooperated fully with the initial Hockey Canada investigation and will continue to cooperate with any other investigations as required.” Victor Mete, who recently signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, issued a statement last month denying involvement. The defender said he was out of the country on a family holiday at the time of the 2018 gala in London. Colorado Avalanche blue-liner and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cale Makar told reporters in Denver before the Stanley Cup Final that he also was not among the eight-player group in question.
