Manitoba RCMP arrest 3 teens suspected of sexual assault in hockey hazing case

A group of three teens has been arrested for alleged sexual assault in connection with hazing on a hockey team, Manitoba RCMP say.

The three are accused of sexual assaults on five victims who were 15 and 16, RCMP said in a news release on Tuesday.

The three teens were arrested Monday — two for sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault and forcible confinement, and one for sexual assault and assault, RCMP said in the news release.

"It's very important for the youth out there or people involved with hazing incidents [to] know that their actions can lead to very serious consequences," Staff Sgt. Richard Sherring of the RCMP major crime unit in Winnipeg said in an interview.

"Every person participating in sports should be able to do so in a safe environment."

The arrests are connected with an alleged hazing during a Pembina Valley high school hockey team's trips to Winnipeg for tournaments this past winter, RCMP said.

The teens allegedly assaulted teammates at a Winnipeg hotel in November and January, and the allegations were reported to police on Feb. 20, police said.

All of the victims and accused are male hockey players in Prairie Spirit School Division. The victims were rookies, RCMP said.

The three accused teens have been released and are scheduled to appear in a Winnipeg court on June 10.

Charges have not yet been officially laid, but RCMP are working with the Crown attorney's office and hope they'll be laid before the court date.

The principal of one of the schools reported the allegations to Pembina Valley RCMP after a coach told her, Sherring said.

Investigators have travelled to the schools to speak with members of the hockey team and other people with information about what happened, Sherring said.

RCMP are not naming the team to protect the identities of the young people involved, he said.

'Go to somebody who you trust'

The team draws players from three different school divisions.

One division, the francophone Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine, spoke on behalf of all three in a Tuesday statement to CBC, saying Prairie Spirit declines to speak on the charges or the involvement of its students.

The divisions involved will continue to work in support of the affected students and their families, as well as increase awareness of hazing, the statement said.

"Divisional efforts have included restitution work, revamping of policy and procedure, as well as an internal awareness/education campaign," the statement said.

Sherring encourages anyone involved in youth sports to speak up about such incidents.

"If you're not comfortable in doing it yourself … go to somebody who you trust," Sherring said. "It's OK to speak up for yourself and to come forward."

RCMP are trying to help young people feel they're in a safe environment, he said.

"It's one thing to have team-building and whatnot," Sherring said. "It's another thing to cross the line and to put people in situations where they're vulnerable."

'Deeply troubling'

Chad Falk, executive director of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association, said they're monitoring the situation and will provide support to the school division, but the association can't say much about a case that's before the courts.

"The association's primary concern is the safety and well-being of all students athletes involved," Falk said in an email statement.

"The allegations are deeply troubling, and we take them very seriously."

Wayne McNeil, co-founder of Respect Group, which provides online training to help people recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination, said the good news is the young men felt confident enough to speak to someone.

"I applaud the victims in this case for coming forward, because it's not easy at all," said McNeil, who co-founded Respect with Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player who was abused by junior hockey coach Graham James.

Wayne McNeil, co-founder of the group Respect with former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, says victims have to make their own well-being their number 1 priority. (Submitted by Wayne McNeil)

Coaches and parents need to evaluate whether teams should allow any initiation or rookie programs, McNeil said.

While it's positive that the allegations are being taken seriously, the well-being of any victims is paramount, he said.

Even if there are convictions, in the long run that "doesn't really do much to positively impact, you know, the well-being of those that have been victimized," he said.

Victims need to get professional help, he said.

"The number 1 priority is to take care of yourself."