The body governing university sports has ruled players on the University of Ottawa (U of O) men’s hockey team can transfer to to play on other university teams.
The Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) announced July 17 that U of O men’s hockey players can transfer for the 2014-15 season without sitting out an entire year, despite the team’s suspension.
The police investigation on an alleged sexual assault that occurred in Thunder Bay in February while the team was playing at Lakehead University is ongoing.
CIS executive officer Pierre Lafontaine said in an email that the decision went through an eligibility committee and was passed by the CIS board before it was announced.
The move means the players must change schools completely if they want to play for another hockey team.
Lafontaine said he believes other schools will be open to the players transferring despite the alleged sexual assault.
“I’m not sure how many athletes will take advantage of the opportunity, but we’ll see in the next few weeks,” Lafontaine said.
The alleged incident occurred against a woman on the weekend of Feb. 1, 2014, when the U of O Gee-Gees played the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.
Thunder Bay police launched an investigation after receiving a third-party complaint.
After the alleged incident and the ensuing investigation was made public, the men’s varsity hockey program was suspended for the 2014-15 season and the head coach was fired.
Caroline Milliard, manager of media relations at U of O, said the decision to suspend the hockey team was made by the university and the transfer rule was decided by CIS.
No charges have been laid in the ongoing investigation.
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