Breakaway on SI

OHL Releases Statement After Recent Allegations

The OHL has issued a response to sexual assault allegations brought against former players.

Jacob Punturi

Oct 27, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; A general view of an NHL hockey puck during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Washington Capitals at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Oct 27, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; A general view of an NHL hockey puck during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Washington Capitals at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Ontario Hockey League is dealing with a situation that was just recently made public. With their season just getting underway, the league is now sorting out how to navigate a serious allegation from off the ice.

Sports writer and journalist Rick Westhead broke the news for CTV that a woman, going by the pseudonym of Anne Marie, brought forward allegations against eight OHL players from an incident in November of 2014. She told Westhead that a group of hockey players committed sexual assault against her a decade ago. The alleged incident took place at the billet home of one of the players. Westhead's full report goes into further details of the allegations.

In response, the OHL issued a statement on the matter. They made it clear in their statement that they are cooperating with the police, had no previous knowledge of this incident before this was made public, and asserted their dedication to educating and preventing sexual assaut and violence through their OHL ONSIDE program. The full statement can be found below.

"The League takes allegations of this nature very seriously and will cooperate with any corresponding police investigation," they wrote in part of their response. "The OHL recognizes the courage required for victims of sexual assault to come forward with their experiences, and would always desire to see justice served and perpetrators held to account."

This is an ongoing situation. The Break Away On SI team will provide information and updates as they are made available.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway OnSI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more! 

Published
Jacob Punturi
JACOB PUNTURI

Jacob is a featured writer covering the Pittsburgh Steelers for Steelers On SI and the NHL for Breakaway On SI. He also co-hosts the All Steelers Talk podcast. Previous work covering the NHL for Inside the Penguins and The Hockey News.

Home/News Feed Page