A former member of the Sarnia Sting is spearheading a class action lawsuit against the Canadian Hockey League and its member leagues and teams.
Daniel Carcillo and former Lethbridge Hurricanes player Garrett Taylor filed a statement of claim with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice Thursday, on behalf of players who allegedly suffered abuse during their junior careers.
The statement claims Canadian major junior hockey has been plagued by rampant hazing, bullying, and abuse of underage players, by coaches, team staff and senior players. It alleges the defendants, instead of taking meaningful preventative action, have perpetuated a toxic environment that condones violent, discriminatory, racist, sexualized, and homophobic conduct, including physical and sexual assault, on the underage players they are obligated to protect.
The plaintiffs seek an order certifying the class action and make claims for damages for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract in an amount the court deems appropriate.
Carcillo, who was born in King City, Ontario, and currently lives in Illinois, played for the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League, starting in the summer of 2002 when he was 17. Carcillo alleges that he and approximately 12 other rookies suffered on the Sting almost constant abuse for the entire 2002-2003 season, perpetrated by older Sting players and team staff, agents, employees and servants. Carcillo would go on to win Stanley Cups with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.
Since his retirement, Carcillo has been an outspoken critic of hockey culture.
Garrett Taylor was born in California, and currently resides there. He played for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League starting in the summer of 2008 when he was 17. Taylor claims that he and a number of other rookies on the Hurricanes suffered abuse throughout the 2008-2009 season, perpetrated by older Hurricanes players and team staff, agents, employees and servants.
The full statement of claim can be found here. EDITOR'S NOTE: Details of the allegations may be disturbing to some readers