Manitobans react following acquittal of hockey players in sexual assault trial

CTV’s Daniel Halmarson has reaction to the verdict in the Hockey Canada sex assault trial, and learns what advocates want to see changed.

Reaction in Manitoba is pouring in following a trial involving five former members of Canada’s World Junior hockey team.

Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote were all acquitted on charges of sexual assault following a trial in London, Ont. The five players were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in June 2018.

In her decision read Thursday, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said the accuser’s testimony was not credible during the trial.

“Everyone should understand that what happens in court is specific to a certain set of facts, and that’s it.” said lawyer and sexual abuse survivor Greg Gilhooly.

Gilhooly, who as a teenager was also a victim of disgraced hockey coach Graham James, said in his opinion, the incident in the hotel room was concerning.

“What that room required was character, and there was an absence of character in that room that night,” he said. “Somebody needed to step up and say, ‘Guys, I don’t care what she’s saying, this is wrong. We’re better than this. This has to stop. We got to get her out of here. We got to get ourselves out of this. This is not right.’”

Gilhooly added the verdict shows hockey culture has a long way to go before changes are made.

“Hockey culture needs to change, and it will change, but hockey culture will also only change as quickly as society as a whole changes and moves forward, understands consent, takes to heart that sentiment of just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,” he said.

Klinic Community Health, an organization that offers crisis counselling and support to sexual assault victims, said the trial could cause some victims to avoid coming forward.

“We truly stand in solidarity and in support of those impacted by sexual violence and impacted when decisions and outcomes occur that continue to normalize sexual violence and discredit and silence persons who experience sexual violence,” said Richelle Ready, manager of crisis support services with Klinic.

Ready notes there are places other than the criminal justice system that can help people who have experienced sexual violence.

“You are not defined by systems who normalize sexual violence,” Ready said. “You are not defined by systems that discredit and silence your experience and your voice. And it’s also important if you’ve experienced sexual violence or someone close to you has experienced sexual violence, to find someone safe, to talk to.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

The Winnipeg Police Service Victim Services line can be reached at 204-986-6350. The Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line can also be accessed at 204-786-8631.