OTTAWA — The University of Ottawa is refusing to release a pair of investigative reports into misconduct that led to the suspension of its entire men's hockey team.
And the school is revealing for the first time that the probe was overseen by a major law firm and launched as part of a pre-emptive legal strategy.
As a result, the varsity players find themselves in the odd situation of having participated willingly in an investigation that was aimed at protecting the university from possible lawsuits.
Police in Thunder Bay have charged two players with sexual assault in connection with an incident involving a 21-year-old woman during a road trip in February 2014.
Most of the rest of the team is part of a $6-million class-action lawsuit against the university that alleges the reputations of the other players have been tarnished.
Documents about the university's investigation and legal strategy were included in a submission to Ontario's information commissioner following a complaint by The Canadian Press.
