Rick Westhead

A mistrial has been declared in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team.
Justice Maria Carroccia dismissed the jury this morning without giving them an explanation for the mistrial.
A new jury will be selected today.

A number of people have reached out asking that I post updates on the London hockey trial here.
I will do my best.
Day three of the trial began at about 10 a.m. None of the discussions taking place in court to this point today can be reported on because of a publication ban.

Crown says London hockey trial 'a case about consent'.

@rickwesthead.bsky.social has more: www.tsn.ca/crown-says-l...

My new book, WE BREED LIONS: Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture is coming this fall.

Hockey in Canada is at crossroads. Current and former junior players have been shockingly open with me. There is much to explore and discuss.
Pre-order here:
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/775299...

The trial of five former players on Canada's 2018 World Juniors team is scheduled to begin in six weeks, on Apr. 22.
The trial will begin at the same time as NHL teams are playing in the first round of the playoffs and ahead of a federal election, which reportedly will be held as soon as Apr. 28.

Peel police investigating alleged 2014 sexual assault involving OHL players | TSN Peel Regional Police confirm they are investigating an alleged incident involving eight former Mississauga Steelheads players, Rick Westhead writes.

New: Peel Regional Police have confirmed its special victims unit is investigating an alleged sexual assault involving eight former Ontario Hockey League players with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2014.
www.tsn.ca/peel-police-...

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The best way to have more of this is to support media companies that are committed to investigative reporting.
The Globe, Star, Walrus. The Athletic in sports.

I’d love to see more investigative journalism. The challenge is it can be expensive in resources and it takes time - I am now working on stories I was tipped off on more than a year ago. But the payoff, affecting real change, is tough to beat and can’t be measured in likes and followers.

Also… there was a time when some reporters would contact a person early evening and say they were going to publish about them the following morning.
Today, credible journalists share what they are planning to report with the person they are reporting on and give a fair chance to consider a response.

Good q. I prob receive 5-6 tips every week. We can’t chase all of them. I bring ones I think have merit to colleagues and review documents provided and discuss if a story is in the public interest. It can take months to report a story and legally vet it before publishing.

Trying something new... I believe there's value in helping people better understand the reporting process and will try to respond on this platform to any questions people might have about "the stories behind the stories" and how journalism works.

In his first year as Canada Soccer's chief executive, Kevin Blue has secured $8.5M worth of donations in connection with the organization's new major-gifts program.
More on how the 42-year-old Blue believes philanthropy will play a key role in Canada Soccer's future:
www.tsn.ca/soccer/rick-...

Paramedic aboard flipped plane at Toronto Pearson recounts urgent rescue as jet fuel poured into cabin Peter Carlson recalls passengers and crew all chipping in to guide everyone safely away from the smouldering plane

"The odour of aviation fuel flooded the cabin. He could see gas flowing past the windows. If it all ignited, they were done for, he thought."
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

If I was in a plane crash and jet fuel was spilling into the upside down cabin and passengers were taking time to pull their luggage out of overhead compartments and record the scene with their cellphones before evacuating, that would not go well.

My new book, WE BREED LIONS: Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture is coming this fall.

Hockey in Canada is at crossroads. Current and former junior players have been shockingly open with me. There is much to explore and discuss.
Pre-order here:
www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/775299...

‘Youngblood’ Feature Reboot Is Happening With Aircraft Pictures & Dolphin Entertainment Aircraft Pictures and Dolphin Entertainment are rebooting the 1986 movie Youngblood, with Ashton James in the role originally played by Rob Lowe.

A reboot of the 1986 hockey movie “Youngblood” is in the works and reportedly being filmed in Barrie, Ont.
The original featured Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves and Peter Zezel. Some of the hockey scenes were filmed at the iconic Ted Reeve arena.

deadline.com/2025/02/youn...

Three of the five former members of Canada’s 2018 world juniors hockey team charged with sexual assault are in court in London today for a pre-trial hearing.
Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, and Dillon Dube are in attendance.
The players’ trial is scheduled to begin Apr. 22.

Hockey Canada has a new board of directors, led by Jonathan Goldbloom, a Montreal public-relations executive who succeeds Hugh Fraser as board chair.
Newly-elected board members include former WNT player Gillian Apps and former NHL player Corey Hirsch.

Angus Mortimer, a former kayaker who represented Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, has been given a lifetime ban from Canoe Kayak Canada.
Meantime, hundreds of provincial and federal sports federations across Canada continue to keep secret the names of people they have sanctioned.