Report: NHLPA unhappy with new Hockey Canada player screening

Credit: Photo from Steven Ellis/Euro Hockey

In a memo obtained by The Athletic, the National Hockey League Player’s Association has taken issues with new screening measures put in place by Hockey Canada ahead of the men’s World Hockey Championship.

According to The Athletic, players were subjected to a criminal records check and a social media screening in order to participate in Latvia and Finland this month. The tournament kicked off today and will run until May 28.

“The screening process is extremely broad and includes the required disclosure of anything that could negatively impact Hockey Canada’s reputation,” the memo obtained by The Athletic said. “We asked Hockey Canada to clarify how players were to respond to this question, but they were unable to provide any useful guidance.”

According to The Athletic, Hockey Canada said it does not believe any players opted out of participating at the World Championship due to the new protocols.

“There are a number of reasons why players choose to not participate in the IIHF World Championship, both for Canada and other countries,” Hockey Canada’s vice president of sport safety Natasha Johnston told The Athletic. “When inviting players to participate, reasons for not playing included timing of the tournament, injury, offseason plans and more, and we respect the decisions of each individual to either participate or not participate.”

TSN’s Rick Westhead detailed the new screening measures ahead of the 2023 World Junior Championship, which includes questions about whether players have been previously disciplined, among other things.

The move comes in the wake of the scandal involving 2018 World Junior Championship team members that has been linked to sexual assault allegations. Hockey Canada has been under fire for handling the allegations, with the organization and the London, Ont. police reopening their investigations. A woman alleged she was assaulted by eight team members during a Hockey Canada Foundation gala in 2018.

Many of Hockey Canada’s biggest sponsors, including Tim Hortons and Canadian Tire, have either adjusted how they advertise with the company, or pulled funding altogether.