In 2018, eight members of the Canada World Junior team allegedly committed a sexual assault against one woman. While investigations by both the London Ontario police and the Hockey Canada organization commenced days later, no players were initially charged.

Four years later, the woman filed a civil suit, which was settled within a few weeks by Hockey Canada on behalf of the defendants.

This event caused Hockey Canada to lose sponsors like Nike and Tim Hortons, while the London police reopened the case and the NHL began their own investigations as well, seeing as the majority of the 2018 team went on to play in the NHL.

With an investigation as horrific as this one, most would expect it to be treated with some reverence.

Instead, people are in the comments of social media posts and threads, making comments claiming the victim is only going after these players now that they’re famous and have money, or asking why it took her so long to come forward.

It took six years for the player to be charged, not for her to come forward. The default seems to be blaming the victim while being quick to defend the players, usually done by people who are just learning of the story or not knowing the basics of the case.

Others are focusing on trivial issues, like how the Flyers will cope with losing a franchise goalie like Carter Hart or how the Devils can come to terms with losing Michael McLeod and his top-of-the-league faceoff percentage.

You’re going to tell me these things are more important than the trauma this woman had to endure and the pain that will accompany her for a lifetime?

I love sports. I love hockey. I love the Flyers and will always watch a Devils game. But none of that matters in this context.

I understand “innocent until proven guilty,” but the case has been on and off for six years, and charges were made due to new evidence. Things don’t look promising for these players.

I would rather lose the $30 I spent on a Hart shirt from my sophomore year of high school than leave it hanging in my closet until 2026 while spending the next two years defending him with the hopes of him being found innocent.

As fans of any kind, whether it be sports, music, movies, etc., we need to stop placing these people on pedestals and defending them in the face of crimes such as this. It does more harm to the victim than good for anyone else.

There are bigger things in life than a hockey game.