Editor's Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
A source who saw a video of the alleged gang sexual assault case involving Hockey Canada's 2003 world junior team has identified two players who may be in the video to Halifax Regional Police, the CBC reported on Wednesday.
News of the case emerged in July after Hockey Canada revealed it was informed of the allegations by TSN's Rick Westhead. Hockey Canada then contacted police in Halifax, where the 2003 world junior hockey championship was hosted, who then opened an investigation.
At the time of the story breaking, TSN reported three sources had viewed a video that allegedly contains "roughly a half-dozen players taking turns having sex with a woman who was non-responsive."
The source who spoke to the CBC said the video was taken while the players were at the world juniors in Halifax. The source added he was able to identify the player holding the camera at the start of the video as well as a second player standing outside a room.
Some members of the 2003 Canadian world junior team have since issued statements regarding the alleged assault, denying involvement and/or encouraging a full investigation.
The source told the CBC he did not say anything immediately after seeing the video in 2003 because he was raised to "shut up" and keep silent, but decided to speak up after news of the 2018 alleged sexual assault involving members of the 2018 Canadian world junior team became public knowledge.
In that case, a woman filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and eight unnamed CHL players stating she was sexually assaulted in a London, Ont. hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala event in June 2018.
Hockey Canada is facing increased scrutiny in the wake of both alleged assaults, and news that the governing body had a fund using membership fees to pay out sexual abuse claims, with widespread demand for a change in leadership — including from survivors' advocate Sheldon Kennedy and Canada's parliamentary Committee on Canadian Heritage.
