Ontario government to investigate team sale allegations against Greater Toronto Hockey League | CBC News

Ontario’s minister of tourism, culture and sport says an independent investigation into the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) is in the works.

The announcement, which came during question period Tuesday in Toronto, comes after Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles asked the provincial government to launch an investigation into the GTHL over allegations of teams being sold for large sums of money.

“I am calling on the provincial government to launch an investigation into these very serious allegations and do its part to end cash-for-access culture in amateur hockey,” Stiles said.

“I am also calling on them to close any loopholes that the owners of these shell companies may have exploited.”

Neil Lumsden, the province’s minister of tourism, culture and sport said the ministry “does not have a direct relationship with membered organizations as a provincial sports organizations,” but as the GTHL is a member of the Ontario Hockey Federation, there is “action being taken.

“There is information that we need to follow up with the Ontario Hockey Federation, we will do exactly that … we will act based on the information we get from the investigation,” he said.

Allegations centre on team sale

Stiles was joined by MPP Jennie Stevens and former NHL player Akim Aliu at a news conference held Tuesday morning in response to a TSN report where a prospective buyer detailed negotiations to purchase a minor hockey team for $375,000. 

According to the TSN report, which cites an anonymous prospective buyer of a GTHL team, the buyer was advised on how he could get around league rules that mandate teams cannot be bought or sold because they are non-profits. CBC News has not independently verified the information reported by TSN. 

The GTHL has A, AA and AAA teams across the Greater Toronto Area and is the largest minor hockey organization in the world, according to its website. There are 46 GTHL alumni skating in the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to the league’s website, eight of them with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In a statement published to its website, the GTHL said it is aware of the allegations of team sales.

The league added it has launched an investigation led by former police detective Michael A. Davis and overseen by a retired Ontario judge. Davis is a 32-year-veteran of the Toronto Police Service, according to his website. The GTHL statement does not name the retired judge.

League won’t approve transfer if ‘inappropriate’ transactions found

The league won’t approve the transfer of control of an organization if there is an inappropriate financial transaction involved, the statement said. 

“The GTHL, as with any sport governing body, relies on the good faith of Club and Team Officials to be forthright in providing relevant information to the GTHL,” it added.

Stiles said there appears to be a cash for access culture in the GTHL, where wealthy parents can pay for their kid’s spot on a roster. 

Aliu said he thinks children in the GTHL are being used as pawns by adults looking to cash in on unrealistic dreams.

“What’s happening right now with our game is a national embarrassment on so many levels,” he said. “I believe anybody who continues to stay silent on these topics is complicit.”

Lumsden said young athletes competing in amateur sports should be judged on their playing abilities and their character, and nothing else.

“If there are other things going on as being suggested, we will find that out through this investigation,” he said.