Several minor hockey leagues in Nova Scotia are reiterating their commitment to protecting players after four youths were charged in connection with hazing incidents. But many aren’t saying publicly how they plan to do that.
Four players on a Truro-area team are facing sexual assault charges as part of an ongoing investigation by RCMP. The lead investigator has said more victims are expected to come forward.
The identities of the accused are protected by a publication ban because they are under 18, and CBC News is not identifying the team involved. Players under 18 play for a variety of leagues in Nova Scotia, ranging from regional minor teams to provincial minor teams to major teams and junior teams.
Many minor leagues across the province proactively issued public statements after the charges were announced to affirm their commitment to preventing harassment and bullying.
CBC News reached out to all 33 Nova Scotia minor hockey associations to talk about any initiatives they have in place to prevent hazing and educate players on the subject.
Four representatives responded and just two agreed to do interviews. One official who didn’t want to be interviewed said their league doesn’t have any training on hazing for players specifically, but that will likely change after last week’s charges.
Officials with Hockey Nova Scotia and Sport Nova Scotia also declined interview requests.
Hockey Nova Scotia, the governing organization for minor hockey in the province, has mandatory training for parents on how players and parents need to behave on and off the ice, but there is no training for the young players.
A spokesperson for the organization wouldn’t say if the board of directors was considering changes, but said in an email Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia will be reviewing all training programs later this year.
Hockey Nova Scotia’s code of conduct included a maltreatment, bullying and harassment protection and prevention policy.
“Participants in Hockey Nova Scotia’s programming should have the reasonable expectation that Hockey Nova Scotia will provide an environment that is safe, accessible, inclusive and is free from all forms of maltreatment, bullying and harassment,” the policy states.
James Edwards, the president of the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association, was one of the representatives who agreed to an interview with CBC. He said having rules is one thing, but making sure players understand them takes work.
“Education is key,” he said. “It’s one thing for that to be said, ‘It’s covered in the code of conduct,’ but people have to know about it as well.”
Edwards said Hockey Nova Scotia sent its code of conduct to all minor hockey associations after the hazing investigation was made public by police on Feb. 5.
Every team in the Glace Bay league was told they had to confirm they received and read it, he said.
The Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association takes an extra step to try to implement its code of conduct. Association president Matt Fredericks told CBC the league requires every player, coach and volunteer to sign a pledge before the season starts.
The pledge helps establish a dialogue about topics that can be hard to talk about, Fredericks said.
“Once the conversation is open and people are comfortable talking about it, then you’re more likely to have things brought up as they occur — rather than having to wait and hear about them later or having them swept under a rug,” he said.
The pledges include different responsibilities depending on the age of the player, but the document for older players specifically mentions physical harassment and abuse.
Coaches and volunteers can only do so much to protect players when they’re together at the rink, Fredericks said.
At least two coaches have to be in a team’s dressing room at all times with players, according to a Hockey Canada policy.
But adults involved in the Halifax Hawks system are also in a unique position to build trust with youth and have a positive influence on them, Fredericks said.
He said coaches should be teaching kids how to make good decisions on the ice and away from the rink.
“Hockey isn’t just about being good at hockey. It’s also becoming a good person, so if we’re focusing on one side over the other we won’t meet those goals,” said Fredericks.
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