In the wake of the recent Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, a simple question from his wife prompted journalist Patrick Johnston to reflect on the stark differences in how men and women experience the world. This personal moment of realization mirrors the urgent conversations happening across Canada about sports culture, power, and accountability.
The Grim Reality of Hockey's Broken Culture
Rick Westhead's powerful new book We Breed Lions delivers a devastating examination of the toxic culture permeating junior hockey. As an investigative reporter for TSN, Westhead brings credibility and depth to his exploration of how this environment desensitizes young men to the safety of others and fosters dangerous attitudes toward women and teammates alike.
The book emerges from Westhead's reporting on the 2018 sexual assault case involving several hockey players. While Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Dillon Dube all pleaded not guilty to criminal charges for sexual assault, the trial revealed disturbing patterns within hockey culture. Westhead describes players "eating chicken wings while guys were getting oral sex in front of them" - a chilling example of the emotional disconnection and objectification that characterizes this broken system.
Cycles of Abuse and Objectification
Westhead's research reveals how veteran players who were once hazed as rookies continue the cycle by terrorizing new, often teenage, teammates. This creates an environment where teammates become objects to be dominated rather than allies to be cultivated. The normalization of this behavior naturally extends to how women are viewed within this culture.
Unlike historical accounts that might dismiss such behavior as "how things used to be," Westhead focuses on players from the past decade, making his findings impossible to ignore. "There are so many of them on the record, it's literally impossible to refute this," Westhead told Johnston.
Rituals like the "hotbox" - where naked rookies are crammed into a bus bathroom and forced to collect coins to "buy" back their clothes - continue with coaches seemingly turning a blind eye. Even more disturbing are the parties where rookies are pressured to recruit women for older players to prey upon, with participants forced to consume alarming quantities of alcohol or bodily fluids.
A Path Toward Healing and Change
Despite the grim portrait, We Breed Lions isn't without hope. Westhead highlights positive initiatives, such as former Australian rugby player Brent Bentvelzen's work with the Peterborough Petes. These programs focus on developing healthy sexual relationships and fostering genuine camaraderie among players.
Westhead also found encouragement in players who have broken the cycle. "I think it's important to note, there's cases where young players have wound up in the right kind of room," he observed. "Or 20-year-olds who are like 'this happened to me, and I'm ending that cycle. This is no longer happening.'"
The book arrives at a critical moment for Canadian hockey, following the Hockey Canada scandal that shook the nation's most beloved sport. Westhead's thorough investigation provides not just condemnation but concrete solutions, offering a roadmap for how hockey culture can evolve to become safer and more inclusive for everyone involved.
