The QMJHL logo is shown in an undated handout photo. The Quebec legislature's culture and education committee is calling for governance changes at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as part of a report on hazing in the sport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-QMJHL
QUEBEC – A Quebec legislature committee is calling for governance changes at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as part of a report on hazing in the sport.
The committee is calling for the league to be run by an independent board of directors that doesn’t consist mostly of team owners and employees.
The report released today also recommends that the QMJHL establish what activities are acceptable during initiations and what constitutes hazing.
It says the league needs to take steps to educate players and establish an independent mechanism for receiving and investigating hazing complaints.
The committee is also calling on all junior hockey and other sports organizations to ban hazing, including specific activities during initiations such as tattooing players, sex acts, physical violence and drinking games.
The committee, which heard from witnesses in February, began studying the issue after an Ontario Superior Court justice accepted evidence that major junior players suffered “horrific” abuse from teammates and staff during initiations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2023.
