The case of an Island junior hockey player on trial for sexual assault is raising questions about how the sport handles allegations of sexual violence.
The Buccaneers are one of 11 teams in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, which announced last month it would withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework as of next fall to operate as an independent farm league for the B.C. Hockey League. Tali Campbell, the former general manager of the Buccaneers, said he advised the girl to go to the police and Boychuk was internally suspended while the team decided how to handle the situation.
“I do not believe every person who received an allegation should have the book thrown at them until that person is proven guilty in the courts. That being said, I do believe you have to put extra steps in place until the court makes their decision, which we did with Kenny,” he said in an email. Campbell said Boychuk was traded to the Kerry Park Islanders, based in Mill Bay, after requesting a trade to a team that would offer him a better opportunity in the playoffs.