#Daniel Carcillo heads disturbing junior hockey sexual assault lawsuit

Daniel Carcillo is part of a class action lawsuit filed Thursday against the Canadian Hockey League alleging players were abused and assaulted.

Another former junior player, Garrett Taylor, is the other plaintiff in the lawsuit that was filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The suit, obtained by several media outlets, alleges teenage players were “routinely victims to hazing, bullying, physical and verbal harassment, physical assault, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.”

The abuse described by Carcillo included allegations he and others were “repetitively hit on their bare buttocks with a sawed-off goalie stick, developing large welts and open sores.”

There are also disturbing allegations of players being forced to masturbate in front of teammates and coaches as well as other sexual acts, including objects being forced into their anuses.

Carcillo, 35, played for nine years in the NHL, including part of the 2013-14 season with the Rangers. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 and retired in 2015.

In the lawsuit, Carcillo claims he was subject to “almost constant and repetitive abuse” while playing with the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League from 2002-03. He also pointed a finger at head coach Jeff Perry and GM Terry Doran, saying they were aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it.

The lawsuit claims Carcillo was left “permanently traumatized. He suffered severe mental health issues which were not present before the abuse he endured (and) he continues to suffer from those mental health issues to this day.’’

In a statement, Carcillo said: “This case is on behalf of underage minors who suffered violent hazing, physical and sexual assault and psychological trauma while playing major junior hockey. I was one of those kids when I played in the OHL. I know there are many more just like me.”

On Twitter Thursday night, Carcillo pointed out that Perry “is still coaching children” and that he has contacted Hockey Canada, the governing body for grassroots hockey and “the home of Team Canada’’ and gotten no response.

Taylor played in the Western Hockey League from 2008-10.

The law firm representing both players, Koskie Minsky LLP, said the suit “is on behalf of children aged 15-17 who were sexually and physically assaulted, hazed and otherwise abused while away from home and playing for CHL teams.”