The Ontario Hockey League is reaffirming its commitment to player education following the conclusion of a high-profile sexual assault trial involving members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team.
In a statement to CKNXNewsToday.ca, OHL Director of Communications Josh Sweetland outlined the league’s continued focus on off-ice training and accountability.
"The Ontario Hockey League has and will continue to prioritize the education and development of our players both on and off the ice," Sweetland wrote.
He noted that the league "mandates ongoing education and training for all players and staff," including programs addressing "consent, respectful relationships, and bystander intervention."
One of the league’s core programs is ONSIDE, which Sweetland described as "an education initiative that has been delivered to all OHL member teams on an annual basis since 2015." The training is "facilitated by representatives of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre."
Sweetland added that "the league commits $30,000 annually to the facilitation of the ONSIDE program."
In addition to ONSIDE, Sweetland confirmed "all players and team staff complete training in the areas of maltreatment, the OHL Conduct Policy, and Equity & Inclusion." He also highlighted the league’s partnership with REES, a third-party anonymous reporting platform.
"The OHL is committed to continuing our efforts to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all of our players, staff, and member team communities," Sweetland said.