The suspension of the University of Ottawa's men’s varsity hockey program – over allegations of misconduct related to a sexual assault investigation – will continue for the 2014-15 season, president Allan Rock announced Wednesday.
Thunder Bay police launched an investigation after receiving a third-party complaint of a sexual assault on the weekend of Feb. 1, when the University of Ottawa's Gee Gees hockey team was in that city to play the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.
Head coach Réal Paiement, who was with the team during the road trip, was initially suspended with pay but has now been "relieved of his duties," Rock said. Paiement learned of the allegations "hours" after they occurred, and "devised and imposed measures by himself with respect to the team" — but did not inform the university, Rock said.
No charges have been laid, but Rock said the university is acting on the results of an internal review.
"We suspended the program — not the team," Rock said. "We know enough to say that what happened there was unacceptable so we're shutting down the program, the coach is being replaced, we're putting new policies and processes in place, and moving forward with a new program."
Rock launched an internal review and announced the team was suspended in March after learning of the "serious allegations."
An independent investigator was hired to conduct interviews about the events in Thunder Bay, including allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, Rock said. The results of that review revealed that "the behaviour of some individuals in Thunder Bay on the weekend in question was unacceptable," Rock said.
"Their behaviour did not meet the university's expectations of our student athletes and was not in keeping with the university community's values," he said.
The final report will not be released, Rock said. "We want to avoid any interference with the ongoing police investigation and to respect the university's privacy obligations," he said.
He acknowledged that not all players on the team were involved in the police investigation into the alleged sex assault.
"The shadow cast by the allegations of misconduct has affected all members of the team, some unfairly," he said. "We cannot name names either way for fear of doing greater injustice or running afoul of the law ourselves."
The review also included an assessment of the university's policies, practices and procedures regarding sport management, ethics and student disciplinary processes. The results of that review were made public Wednesday, and all the recommendations will be implemented, including new guidelines for student athletes, Rock said.
The investigation did not involve the Lakehead University Thunderwolves hockey team, police said, and the assault is not alleged to have happened on university property.
The President of U of O, Allan Rock was a highly respected minister in a previous Canadian government. He will handle this mess about as well as it can be.
Thunder Bay police launched an investigation after receiving a third-party complaint of a sexual assault on the weekend of Feb. 1, when the University of Ottawa's Gee Gees hockey team was in that city to play the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.
Head coach Réal Paiement, who was with the team during the road trip, was initially suspended with pay but has now been "relieved of his duties," Rock said. Paiement learned of the allegations "hours" after they occurred, and "devised and imposed measures by himself with respect to the team" — but did not inform the university, Rock said.
No charges have been laid, but Rock said the university is acting on the results of an internal review.
"We suspended the program — not the team," Rock said. "We know enough to say that what happened there was unacceptable so we're shutting down the program, the coach is being replaced, we're putting new policies and processes in place, and moving forward with a new program."
Rock launched an internal review and announced the team was suspended in March after learning of the "serious allegations."
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| University of Ottawa Gee Gees |
"Their behaviour did not meet the university's expectations of our student athletes and was not in keeping with the university community's values," he said.
The final report will not be released, Rock said. "We want to avoid any interference with the ongoing police investigation and to respect the university's privacy obligations," he said.
He acknowledged that not all players on the team were involved in the police investigation into the alleged sex assault.
"The shadow cast by the allegations of misconduct has affected all members of the team, some unfairly," he said. "We cannot name names either way for fear of doing greater injustice or running afoul of the law ourselves."
The review also included an assessment of the university's policies, practices and procedures regarding sport management, ethics and student disciplinary processes. The results of that review were made public Wednesday, and all the recommendations will be implemented, including new guidelines for student athletes, Rock said.
The investigation did not involve the Lakehead University Thunderwolves hockey team, police said, and the assault is not alleged to have happened on university property.
The President of U of O, Allan Rock was a highly respected minister in a previous Canadian government. He will handle this mess about as well as it can be.
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