'I Was Known As The 'Broom Boy'': Teen Sues Ontario Hockey Camp, Former Camper For Alleged Sexual Assault

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Ontarioteens and their parents with Eagle Crest Resort, which runs a hockey opportunity camp in Sundridge, Ontario. I am suing four former campers. Sexual assault 6 years ago, including the "broom handle".

Global News has agreed to protect the identities of teens and their families who have spoken about the allegations on condition of anonymity.

"I was looking for a friend, so I went to one of the other cabins to see if I had a friend. When someone said they wanted to come in at the door, I started. Let's do it, "said a teenager who was 12 at the time.

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"When I came in, they grabbed me, threw me on the ground, and held me down. They hit me with a broom, and I couldn't really do much to stop it. I was able to escape, and it became very traumatic, "he said. Told.

"I was holding my arms and legs down because a kid with a broom tried to put it in me from behind," he added.

The teenager said he remembered being put into the room by the campers and staff "in a circle" who were allegedly involved in the incident.

"I remember it was one of the hardest parts. I had to be with the kids who did it and talk about it in front of them ... They wrote down all our names and made us say everything that happened in a circle, and just because I was in the room with all the other kids, it really was. It was really, really hard, "he said.

The next day, before the time his parents were due to pick up their children, the teen said the "camp chief" had advised the camper that his parents had been informed about the incident. rice field.

"He put all of us cross-legged and basically informed his parents, so he said there was no need or reason to talk to them," he said.

A teenager said the effects of the alleged assault were long-lasting and life-changing.

"When I talked to some kids what happened at school, they told everyone, and I'm known as the" broom boy "and it's I basically stuck to me. And that just put my middle and high school in hell. Because everyone knew me as a "broom boy".

Read more:International Ice Hockey Federation investigates hockey Canada on suspicion of sexual assault

The phone call from the camp, which their parents said they had never received, only knew what had happened after snooping on their son for information.

"We asked him how the week was. There was a reaction from him and his friends that he soon knew something had happened. He was huge. I raised the red flag, which is the red flag, "said his teenage father.

"We have arrived at the camp, and you expect to see your kids and them happy and enjoyable. They just had a great week with their friends, We arrived, but that wasn't what we saw, "added the teenage mother. "My husband spoke to our son and asked," Will you be back? " And he said "no". You are not allowed to tell us. He couldn't tell us. So we insisted he would tell us what happened. He was found to have been suppressed and beaten by a group of boys with brooms.

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Couples they I immediately contacted the police with the camp owner who said he requested to speak.

"One of the things you look for when you put your child in the hands of others is that they trust that they are safe and how they treat other people's children. In your care. And if something happens, you will be notified immediately. There was no notification. The police were not called, "said the teenage father.

"Not only will he be assaulted at the camp, but the owner of the camp decides not to call me. He decides not to contact the police. He decides not to contact the police. I decided to put the boys who assaulted my son and other children together in the room and talk about the assault. He told my son and other children that it was treated and they Decides not to talk about it with their parents. What's wrong with this culture? What's wrong with a human being who can do it for a 12 year old young child? "The teenage mother cried. ..

Their lawyer, Justin Linden, found that the camp "failed this child, failed the other children who were sacrificed that day, and failed their family." He said he expected it.“

” One of their jobs was to keep this child safe and was sued for a complete failure ... what happened immediately You should have been notified. They should have called this exactly what it was, and they should have done something about it on the fly, "Linden said.

Teen parents were contacted by police six months after the first call and criminal accusations were filed He said he was advised not to.

Read more: Sexual abuse The "code of silence" is still deeply rooted in Canadian sports, former league head

"They showed that everything our son told them was substantiated, but they charged them criminally because the assaulting boys were 11 and 12 years old. I wasn't in a position, "the mother said.

"These cases, some of the problems with these hockey sexual violence cases, were that the police did not prosecute, and if not, even if the boy was young, this would be the case. "We file civil lawsuits to be accountable, but the first line of defense against these situations is the criminal procedure, and the crimes involving the boy who did this," said Linden. There seems to be very clear evidence of the act, and in our view they should have been prosecuted. "

" This requires some accountability. Young children Old school playbooks of denial, diversion, and credibility must be thrown away because we must be accountable when our lives are at stake. " "I think this culture of silence will eventually produce a non-negligible, deafening scream, and that scream is getting louder and louder.

"I think we're responsible for everything else, so to the fact that we haven't talked about this yet." I had a hard time with the kids there, all the other little hockey players out there, "said the teenage mother. "I think we have a responsibility to get up and say this isn't right. We have a responsibility not to be silent."

Global News tells camp lawyer and four boys I asked for a comment. The boys' lawyer has indicated that he will file a request for ban.

Both defense statements deny all claims.

Eagle Crest Resorts said, "August 12, 2016 afternoon," "a counselor heard noise from cabin" X "(a cabin number intentionally withheld to protect privacy)." It states. , And suspected some "horse play". The statement further stated that the counselor "the camper was gently struck / stabbed with a broom" and the defendant "always invaded the camper's anus, as currently claimed." I clearly deny that. "

Read more: Commission Hockey Canada: MP seeks answers in allegations of sexual assault

I didn't camp It was the last night of the camp and "the campers involved have stated that they are okay and intact" so please contact your parents immediately.

Camp said he had discussed the issue with the parents of the four boys the next day, but had no chance to discuss it. They later insisted on the victim's parents as they picked up their son elsewhere.

The defense statement also stated that the defendant was not notified to the police because "no one in the camper recognized the case as sexual or physical assault."

There was no charge for Hockey Opportunity Camp, its owners, or employees.

"It's really sad that my son had to speak up, but only when we're speaking out and not okay, so I'm I am in great awe of his courage, and only then can we make a difference, "said the victim's mother.

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