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The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the subject of a class action lawsuit brought forward by players who allegedly suffered physical, sexual and other types of abuse by older teammates and CHL staff.

A statement of claim has been filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The victims allege the CHL “perpetuated a toxic environment that condones violent, discriminatory, racist, sexualized, and homophobic conduct, including physical and sexual assault, on the underage players they are obligated to protect.”

The case has two lead plaintiffs who were 17-year-old rookies in the CHL several years apart. Both say they were abused at the hands of older players and team staff in incidents of bullying and hazing.

This case, as well as the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements are critically important for eliminating discrimination, abuse, and racism in all levels of society and for seeking justice for victims.

What is a class action lawsuit?

Class action lawsuits involve a group of people, or class members, collectively suing a large organization, typically a large corporation or government, for collective wrongs that the organization has allegedly committed.

In this case, the class members are current and former CHL players who have experienced abuse, and the alleged wrongdoing is the systematic and institutionalized abuse and harassment at all levels of the CHL.

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