Society likes to leave taboo topics out of sports, and even more so despise the idea that their beloved athletic stars could be a part of something so immoral. The pedestal and standards these athletes are held to is undeniable, yet they have more slack than anyone in regards to sexual misconduct.
New evidence form a sexual assault in 2018 is finally being brought back to court after six years of silence from Hockey Canda, the NHL and investigators. The players involved will finally face charges in April 2024.
This case does not name the woman involved, but it is alleged that five players on the 2018 Canada world junior team sexually assaulted this woman sometime during a fundraising gala in London in 2018. As of Monday all players from the 2018 team have been suspended and five players will be brought up on charges.
“Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers; Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils; Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames; and former NHL player Alex Formenton,” according to AP Hockey News are the five players brought up on charges. McLeod will be changed with “being a party to the offense of sexual assault” in addition to the the charge of sexual assault.
The reopened investigation came in 2022 when the woman sued for millions in damages after no charges were filed in 2018. This investigation led to the discovery that Hockey Canada had funds set aside to pay off victims of sexual assault and abuse.
These payouts raise a major alarm for victims of sexual misconduct, payouts are in place to protect the offender and not the victim. Payouts like these preserve the image of the athlete and it preserves the fanbase's love of the team. The franchise then does not have to deal with the backlash these cases tend to attract and pour more money into trials, bails, and legal fees.
Social media has had a strong reaction to the reopening of a sexual assault case in 2018 due to the common narrative that victims are in it for the paycheck and the publicity that comes with professional athletics.
Carter Hart is one of the top ranked goaltenders in the NHL causing Flyer fans to express their outrage on the only platforms they will be heard, social media. The NHL’s official Instagram post addressing the charges hosts hundreds of comments demeaning, blaming, and denying the experience of this woman.
The payout from Hockey Canada does not aid in the misdirected hatred towards one of the women who has come forward about sexual assault from professional athletes. Regrettably, this is the mainstream reaction from fans and society when their sports idols are not as untouchable as they seem.
In 2021 Deshaun Watson faced 22 sexual assault allegations and is currently facing zero criminal charges and zero long-term repercussions for any of the 22 charges brought up against him.
Josh Giddy is currently under investigation, he faces charges of inappropriate relations with a minor, Giddy currently is preparing to face the Mavericks Feb. 10 with no current consequences from the NBA.
One in five women have been sexually assaulted, more go unreported, and the ones that make it to court, 8.5% of offenders are convicted even without bringing the professional athlete into the conversation.
Sexual assault is real and the athletes who commit sexual assault deserve to face the same consequences any other offender would face. Victims deserve to be heard and for their trauma to be taken seriously. Victims speaking their truth on an athlete is not an invitation to belittle that experience due to your own insecurity.
