Sexual Assault Cases in Professional Sports

Colleen Finn

Staff Writer

This summer, the five professional hockey players involved in the Hockey Canda Sexual Assualt case were acquitted of their sexual assault charges. On July 25th, the NHL shared in an official statement that “the allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behavior at issue was unacceptable.” This gave many fans the impression that these players would be banned from the league. This would have been a major step forward for professional sports. It would have set the precedent that athletes should be held accountable for acts of sexual violence, and not given a platform.

Instead, on September 11th, the NHL Players’ Association released an official statement that said the NHL players involved in the case would be allowed to return to the NHL in December. Even though the League has acknowledged the “unacceptable” nature of the situation, they are still choosing to reinstate players. This decision shows that the League does not take sexual assault allegations as seriously as they claim to.

Some of the NHL players involved in the case have struggled to sign with NHL teams, and as a result, have joined European teams. However, just because they are no longer playing in the NHL does not mean that they do not still need to be held accountable for their actions. These players are still granted fame and wealth, just in a different part of the world. In addition, some of these players still have active ties and agents associated with the NHL, which further demonstrates the League’s inability to correctly handle the situation.

It is appalling that these players were able to get away with a slap on the wrist when such extreme allegations are being leveled against them. To play professional hockey is a privilege, and it should not be given to people who have, at any point in time, regardless of their career, committed any act of sexual violence.