2002 Archives

In 2002, we were given a mild dose of news with the civil suit finally coming to the table. However, Sheldon's putting himself back in the spotlight with starting to campaign against child abuse for the CHA by showing up on Oprah for a second time (4/26/02), as well as agreeing to be interviewed for a documentary that aired on the Discovery Health Channel in May, called "Close To Home" (thanks to Megan for the heads up).

The list of archived articles from 2002 is by no means complete. If you have any that are not displayed here, please send me a copy of the article, along with the site address you got it from and please email me.....thanks for your help!!!

Below are the archives for 2002.

Close To Home Transcript

Sheldon Kennedy Joins Speak Out / Letter From Sheldon Kennedy

Lawyers Gather to Sort Out Lawsuit Against Graham James and Hockey Officials (4/14/02)

Junior Hockey Heads To Court (4/15/02)

James Abuse Case Lawsuit Goes to Court This Week (4/15/02)

Case Goes On Without James (4/15/02)

Abuse Civil Suit Discussed (4/15/02)

Sheldon Kennedy Joins Speak Out!

The Speak Out Program of the CHA is delighted to welcome Sheldon Kennedy to our team. Sheldon joined Speak Out as a consultant and speaker on harassment and abuse to assist the CHA in dealing with this important issue.
Sheldon is the pride of Elkhorn, Manitoba. After a junior hockey career, he played for several NHL teams including the Detroit Red Wings, the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins.
Sheldon's courage off the ice led him to confront years of abuse at the hands of his hockey coach, Graham James. Thanks to Sheldon's honesty and willingness to bring this secret forward, the face of hockey in Canada has changed forever.
In an effort to help kids in need, Sheldon raised more than $3 million for the Sheldon Kennedy Foundation by roller skating across Canada. This 134-day journey became a source of inspiration for youth from St. John's to Victoria.
We are pleased to have Sheldon as a part of our Speak Out team and will keep you updated through this newsletter on his continuing involvement in making hockey a safe and fun place for youth.
* * *
A Message From Sheldon Kennedy
There was once an era when a junior hockey coach was revered, feared and, in some cases, viewed as a ticket to the NHL. The coach was a stoic, at times volatile icon who was feared by his young players and taken at face value by the players' parents.
Times have changed.
As I reflect on minor hockey now as a consultant for CHA's Speak Out program, and the differences I see from when I was involved in junior hockey as a Memorial Cup championship team captain, the most valuable change I see is that people are talking to each other. The role of a minor hockey coach is evolving to a communicative sounding board for parents and children alike.
How did the change emerge?
The way I see it, sometimes bad things need to happen to good people in order for major societal change to occur. In my case, I was taken advantage of by my junior hockey coach and had nowhere to turn. I was 13 years old, uneducated, away from home and had no clue what was going on or how to handle it and remove myself from the situation. I believe that if Graham James came after me in today's minor league climate, he would have been stopped dead in his tracks.
Instead of watching minor league hockey collapse under intense public scrutiny following my case, the Canadian Hockey Association chose to confront the problem of abuse head on in all its forms. By implementing new policies, and by screening and educating coaches, CHA has thrust historically taboo subjects into the public eye in a non-threatening, enlightening manner.
Children need a sounding board. Children need to feel safe. They need to know that they won't get in trouble or be cut from the team, bullied, laughed at, rejected or ignored when faced with a threatening situation or even a simple question. Speak Out teaches coaches to listen and to be people children can count on when they get to the rink - a major change from the macho, non-verbal atmosphere of the minor hockey I grew up in.
We have learned that a healthy, clear mind leads to a healthy child. If children are being hurt in any way or keeping dammaging secrets, they will never be able to reach their potential as athletes or people. Speak Out has embraced this theory and is working hard to implement important and ground-breaking changes in minor hockey.
I hope parents learn from Speak Out as well. Parents must look closely at what their children are involved in. Whether at the rink, at school or just playing with friends, parents must pay attention to what is going on every single day of their child's life. It does seem that parents are taking strides to pay more attention and to stop using hockey as a babysitting device. They are taking more active, probing interest in their children's lives. For that, I am truly grateful that my situation played a part in the ever-increasing awareness about what can happen to our children if they are not listened to and treated with respect.
Children are our future, and the future of minor hockey rests in the hearts and souls of healthy, safe children and the coaches who shape their lives every day.
---
Sheldon Kennedy is currently acting as a consultant to the Speak Out Program in his continuous quest to raise the level of awareness and communication around abuse and harassment. Sheldon resides in Calgary with his daughter Ryan.

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April 14, 2002
Lawyers gather to sort out lawsuit against Graham James and hockey officials

CALGARY (CP) -- Major junior hockey faces an accountability crossroads this week as it deals with the lawsuit of a former player sexually abused by his coach. Meanwhile Graham James, the man at the centre of the case, has washed his hands of it and is coaching young players half a world away.

Lawyers for the Swift Current Broncos, the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey Association plan to gather Wednesday at the courthouse in Swift Current, Sask., to see if there is any way to settle the lawsuit and avoid what would surely be a traumatic civil trial.
But James, now coaching in Spain after serving prison time for the molestation, has chosen to ignore the court action since it was filed in January 1999.

"He's never defended it," said Regina lawyer Aaron Fox, who represents the Bronos, the WHL, the CHA and most other parties named in the lawsuit. "He pled guilty so there's been a public admission that what he did was wrong. But he's not filed a defence nor has he appeared at any of these proceedings up until now."

Canadian hockey was rocked to its core when it was revealed the championship-level coach had sexually assaulted his teenaged hockey players. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison for the sexual abuse of two players -- former Boston Bruin Sheldon Kennedy and the plaintiff in this civil suit, who has never been publicly named.

Canadians were further shocked to learn a year ago that James was coaching in Europe after being banned for life from coaching in this country by the Canadian Hockey Association.

James's refusal to defend or even acknowledge the lawsuit has no bearing on how the case unfolds, said Calgary lawyer Fran Huck, whose plaintiff client is now a Saskatchewan firefighter in his 20s.

"We're seeking relief from a number of defendants," said Huck.
The suit calls for upwards of $1 million along with compensation for mental suffering and lost economic opportunity. The player's parents filed a separate lawsuit against the same individuals and organizations, seeking $50,000 and acknowledgment of responsibility. Huck's client was just a youth when he left his parents' Saskatchewan farm to join the Broncos for the 1990-91 season and pursue his dream of a career in the National Hockey League. James began molesting him in 1992 and continued for more than a year. "If not for the admitted assaults by Graham James -- 50 of them -- my client would likely be playing some form of professional hockey today," said Huck.

"My client has been through some rough times and we're hoping his issues can be resolved and he can move ahead," the lawyer said. "We're hopeful this happens at the pretrial."

The hockey organizations and officials, including the woman who oversaw billeting for the Broncos, have denied they were aware that James "sexually assaulted, molested, harrassed and abused" players.
In legal documents, the CHA said "ultimate responsibility for the care and supervision of the plaintiff remained with (his) parents."

The Supreme Court has found that organizations whose employees commit sex crimes can be held vicariously liable in certain situations.
Two days have been set aside for the meetings, which will include a judge to mediate the discussions. Expected to attend are the plaintiff, his parents and all parties named in the suit except James. If no settlement can be reached, a trial date is expected to be set shortly.

Action has been dropped against the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, the Manitoba Hockey Association, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Fox estimates a civil trial would take three to four weeks and is not likely before the fall. He says the number of people interviewed up to this point has been staggering, noting that James coached the Broncos between 1986 and 1994, then moved on to the Calgary Hitmen until 1996, when he was arrested.

"During that time, there's lots of hockey players, lots of parents, lots of fans, lots of sports writers who saw and observed how (James) conducted himself," he said. "Every one of those people has something to say."
The legacy of the James case has been closer scrutiny of minor hockey volunteers. Today, coaches must go through criminal record checks, references and interviews.

Junior hockey heads to court

By CP

CALGARY -- Major junior hockey faces an accountability crossroads this week as it deals with the lawsuit of a former player sexually abused by his coach.

Meanwhile Graham James, the man at the centre of the case, has washed his hands of it.

But James, now coaching in Spain after serving prison time for the molestation, has chosen to ignore the court action since it was filed in January 1999.

"He's never defended it," said Regina lawyer Aaron Fox, who represents the Broncos, the WHL, the CHA and most other parties named in the lawsuit.

"He pled guilty so there's been a public admission that what he did was wrong. But he's not filed a defence, nor has he appeared at any of these proceedings up until now," said Fox.

Canadian hockey was rocked to its core when it was revealed the championship-level coach had sexually assaulted his teenaged hockey players.

He was sentenced to 42 months in prison for the sexual abuse of two players - former Boston Bruin Sheldon Kennedy and the plaintiff in this civil suit, who has never been publicly named.

James's refusal to defend or even acknowledge the lawsuit has no bearing on how the case unfolds, said Calgary lawyer Fran Huck, whose plaintiff client is now a Saskatchewan firefighter in his 20s.

The suit calls for upwards of $1 million along with compensation for mental suffering and lost economic opportunity.

The player's parents filed a separate lawsuit against the same individuals and organizations, seeking $50,000 and acknowledgment of responsibility.

The hockey organizations and officials, including the woman who oversaw billeting for the Broncos, have denied they were aware that James "sexually assaulted, molested, harrassed and abused" players.

Monday, April 15, 2002

James abuse case lawsuit goes to court this week

By CP

CALGARY -- Major junior hockey faces an accountability crossroads this week as it deals with the lawsuit of a former player sexually abused by his coach.

Meanwhile Graham James, the man at the centre of the case, has washed his hands of it and is coaching young players half a world away.

But James, now coaching in Spain after serving prison time for the molestation, has chosen to ignore the court action since it was filed in January 1999.

"He's never defended it," said Regina lawyer Aaron Fox, who represents the Broncos, the WHL, the CHA and most other parties named in the lawsuit.

"He pled guilty so there's been a public admission that what he did was wrong. But he's not filed a defence nor has he appeared at any of these proceedings up until now."

Canadian hockey was rocked to its core when it was revealed the championship-level coach had sexually assaulted his teenaged hockey players. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison for the sexual abuse of two players -- former Boston Bruin Sheldon Kennedy and the plaintiff in this civil suit, who has never been publicly named.

Canadians were further shocked to learn a year ago that James was coaching in Europe after being banned for life from coaching in this country by the Canadian Hockey Association.

Monday, April 15, 2002
Case goes on without James
By JUDY MONCHUK, Canadian Press

CALGARY -- Major junior hockey faces an accountability crossroads this week as it deals with the lawsuit of a former player sexually abused by his coach.

Meanwhile Graham James, the man at the centre of the case, is coaching young players half a world away.

But James, now coaching in Spain after serving prison time for the molestation, has chosen to ignore the court action since it was filed in January 1999.

Canadian hockey was shocked when it was revealed James had sexually assaulted teenaged hockey players. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison for the sexual abuse of two players -- former Boston Bruin Sheldon Kennedy and the unnamed plaintiff in this civil suit.

James's refusal to defend or acknowledge the lawsuit has no bearing on the case, said Calgary lawyer Fran Huck, whose plaintiff client is now a Saskatchewan firefighter in his 20s.

The suit calls for upwards of $1 million along with compensation for mental suffering and lost economic opportunity. The player's parents filed a separate lawsuit, seeking $50,000 and acknowledgment of responsibility.

Huck's client was a youth when he left his parents' farm to join the Broncos for the 1990-91 season and pursue his dream of a career in the NHL. James began molesting him in 1992 and continued for more than a year.

"If not for the admitted assaults by Graham James -- 50 of them -- my client would likely be playing some form of professional hockey today," said Huck.

The hockey organizations and officials, including the woman who oversaw billeting for the Broncos, have denied they were aware that James "sexually assaulted, molested, harassed and abused" players.

In legal documents, the CHA said "ultimate responsibility for the care and supervision of the plaintiff remained with (his) parents."

The Supreme Court has found that organizations whose employees commit sex crimes can be held vicariously liable in certain situations.

Two days have been set aside for the meetings, which will include a judge to mediate the discussions. Expected to attend are the plaintiff, his parents and all parties named in the suit except James. If no settlement can be reached, a trial date is expected to be set shortly.

Action has been dropped against the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, the Manitoba Hockey Association, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Fox estimates a civil trial would take three to four weeks and is not likely before the fall. He says the number of people interviewed up to this point has been staggering, noting that James coached the Broncos between 1986 and 1994, then moved on to the Calgary Hitmen until 1996, when he was arrested.

"During that time, there's lots of hockey players, lots of parents, lots of fans, lots of sports writers who saw and observed how (James) conducted himself," he said. "Every one of those people has something to say."

The legacy of the James case has been closer scrutiny of minor hockey volunteers. Today, coaches must go through criminal record checks, references and interviews.

"He's never defended it," said Regina lawyer Aaron Fox, who represents the Broncos, the WHL, the CHA and most other parties named in the lawsuit. "He pled guilty so there's been a public admission that what he did was wrong. But he's not filed a defence nor has he appeared at any of these proceedings up until now."

Canadians were further shocked to learn a year ago that James was coaching in Europe after being banned for life from coaching in this country by the Canadian Hockey Association.

"We're seeking relief from a number of defendants," said Huck.

"My client has been through some rough times and we're hoping his issues can be resolved and he can move ahead," the lawyer said. "We're hopeful this happens at the pretrial."

4/15/02

ABUSE CIVIL SUIT DISCUSSED

CALGARY -- Major junior hockey faces an accountability crossroads this week as it deals with the lawsuit of a former player sexually abused by his coach. Meanwhile, Graham James, the man at the centre of the case, has washed his hands of it and is coaching young players half a world away. Lawyers for the Swift Current Broncos, the WHL and the Canadian Hockey Association plan to gather Wednesday at the courthouse in Swift Current, Sask., to see if there is any way to settle the lawsuit and avoid what would surely be a traumatic civil trial. But James, now coaching in Spain after serving prison time for the molestation, has chosen to ignore the court action since it was filed in January 1999. "He's never defended it," said lawyer Aaron Fox, who represents the Broncos, WHL, CHA and most other parties named in the lawsuit. James was sentenced to 42 months in prison for the sexual abuse of two players -- former Boston Bruin Sheldon Kennedy and the plaintiff in this civil suit, who has never been publicly named.