By Canadian Press

Bettman: 2018 Canada junior team investigation ‘really close to the end’

Jan 24, 2023 | 4:23 PM

MONTREAL — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the league’s investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team is getting “really close to the end.”

In a media availability at the Bell Centre before the Montreal Canadiens’ game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Bettman said that the investigation was “not a race” and that the goal was to “get it right.”

“Doing an investigation of this nature, getting access to information and people, isn’t something that you can just snap your fingers and make happen,” Bettman said. “Obviously, we’re not the only ones conducting an investigation and apparently nobody’s done yet and so we want to bring it to its conclusion, but we’re just not there yet.”

Bettman had said that the NHL was in the “home stretch” of their investigation on Dec. 13 but that there was still work to be done. Bettman attributed the delay in concluding the investigation to “dealing with the realities” of everyone involved, not resistance from witnesses.

“Getting access to people on a timely basis, we don’t technically have subpoena power, getting documentary evidence that may be filed in places that you have to get access to,” said Bettman. “It’s complicated. It’s not like simply saying, we want it to happen. But we’re trying to work it through when we get to the end and we want to get it right.”

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The NHL began its own review after news surfaced that Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight members of the country’s world junior team at a gala in 2018. Several players from that gold medal-winning team are currently in the NHL.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Bettman also said that the process to sell the Ottawa Senators was “underway.” After the death of owner Eugene Melnyk, Senators Sports & Entertainment said in November that the club would be looking at potential buyers. 

“I believe that the data room is open,” Bettman said. “And the people who will file applications to be qualified have begun to do their due diligence and so my understanding is the process is underway.” 

One high-profile suitor, Hollywood actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds, confirmed his interest in acquiring the NHL team to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show on Nov. 7, 2022. He added that he needed “a partner with deep pockets.”

Reynolds then visited Canadian Tire Centre on Nov. 8 for a 6-4 Senators loss to the Vancouver Canucks and received an ovation.

Bettman also touched on the incident involving Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov back on Jan. 17. The blueliner, who is of Russian Orthodox faith, decided to stay in the Flyers’ locker room as the team held LGBTQ pride night and donned Pride themed pre-game jerseys set to be auctioned for charity.

After the game, Provorov stated his religious beliefs to explain his decision not to step onto the ice wearing the jersey during warmups.

“We as a league and our franchises try to represent the best values in their communities,” Bettman said. “We want to make sure that we can make a positive difference in people’s lives, whether it’s for mental health night or to make certain segments of our society who maybe historically haven’t been involved in hockey feel welcomed and included.

“But ultimately, players also have to be comfortable in terms of their own individual beliefs and it’s a balancing act.” 

In light of the Canada-USA Rivalry series announcing that they would conclude their 2022-23 season in Laval and Trois-Rivières, Que., Bettman reiterated his displeasure with the women’s hockey landscape. 

The current setup pins the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with seven teams in Canada and the United States with the Professional Womens Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA). For Bettman, the NHL’s involvement in a professional women’s league remains impossible without common ground between both sides. 

“We continue to have concerns,” Bettman said. “The two organizations competing as opposed to coming together is not ideal. And if it ever gets figured out, we’ll be more than supportive.”

Bettman added that he has “tried on more than one occasion” to bring both sides together.

“They each seem intent on going in their own direction,” he said. “I think in order for women’s hockey to be successful, everybody’s got to be maximizing the effort together. Because starting a league is not easy.” 

Bettman added that there will be women’s hockey participation once again in the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2023.

Tristan D’Amours, The Canadian Press