Troy Shantz
The Sarnia Sting hockey club has “zero tolerance” for hazing and bullying, its president says.
In a statement sent to The Journal, Bill Abercrombie said policies and programs are in place to ensure all players are treated professionally.
Abercrombie was responding to abuse allegations levelled by former Sting forward Daniel Carcillo, who described extensive physical and emotional abuse he and other rookies experienced during the 2002-03 season in Sarnia.
Carcillo said rookies were regularly beaten with a sawed-off goalie stick and at one point were forced into the bathroom stall of a charter bus naked while senior players spat at them through the vents.
Within days, three other former Sting players confirmed Carcillo’s allegations and shared their own detailed stories of abuse.
CHL commissioner David Branch told the CBC the allegations shared by Carcillo and others were “sickening.”
"We had failed Dan and the other players involved in my view, and it's shocking. You know, I don't know how else to put it," he said.
The full statement from the Sarnia Sting:
“The Sarnia Sting Hockey Club has zero tolerance towards any form of hazing/ bullying and will not stand for or condone that type of behavior within our organizations.
“We currently have policy and programming in place to ensure such actions do not occur and pride ourselves of the professional level of treatment our players receive as part of our program.
Bill Abercrombie, President Sarnia Sting Hockey Club