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Ex-University of Ottawa hockey player says he’s a victim of sexual assault scandal because, 'I bought a condo... and now I have to sell it'

The University of Ottawa suspended its hockey team in March and later called off its '14-15 season
The University of Ottawa suspended its hockey team in March and later called off its '14-15 season

Here is a pro tip: once a Canadian university cancels its men's hockey season due to failure to alert the higher-ups about a sexual assault complaint involving players; once criminal charges have been laid against two players; then, it's long past time for the media to have a sympathetic ear for a former player who is playing the victim.

Actually, the time for that should be never, but we'll get to that.

The only victim in the University of Ottawa hockey sex assault scandal is the 21-year-old woman in Thunder Bay, Ont., whom former Gee-Gees players Guillaume Donovan, 24, and David Foucher, 25, are charged with assaulting. One should not have to point out something so stunningly obvious. Nor should one have to point out then-coach Réal Paiement, played both men (and a third player who was initially part of the police investigation) in Ontario University Athletics playoff games before the university learned of the case. Yet here we are, thanks to Alexandre Touchette, whom granted wasn't on that fateful road trip, whingeing about 'having' to go play in France to a reporter.

From Trevor Greenway:

“I bought a condo in Gatineau and now I have to sell it because I can’t play hockey anymore in Ottawa,” said the former Gee-Gee, who spent the past three years with the club.

...

The University of Ottawa cancelled the entire 2014-2015 season weeks before players Guillaume Donovan and David Foucher were charged for sexual assault in relation to an incident that took place February 2, 2014 when the team was in Thunder Bay to play Lakehead University. Touchette wasn’t in Thunder Bay with the team that weekend.

The 24-year-old said he tried to stay in Canada and spoke to several other teams about playing hockey, but they all just wanted to know if he was involved in the scandal.

“As soon as the school suspended the entire team and told the media about it my reputation was damaged,” he said, adding that his parents were receiving emails from all over wondering if their son was part of the alleged sex assault. He said because no charges were laid for months after the allegations came to light, the entire team had to pay for the actions of two players.

The University did say, however, that any players that were on athletic scholarships are still “receiving financial support for 2014 2015 despite the suspension of the hockey program.” (Metro Ottawa)

For pity's sake. The program was suspended, hate repeating myself, due to inaction by Paiement. It all started with two so-called leaders behaving abominably while on a road trip that was paid for by the University of Ottawa. It is also naivety writ large that Touchette, who played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was taken aback when CIS men's hockey coaches asked if he was under investigation when he inquired about transferring.

That is not to say there was no story here at all. Touchette is doing what many players who went through the QMJHL and university hockey have done under normal circumstances — find a hockey-playing gig in Europe. He's turned a negative into a positive, but he's no victim.

Instead of providing the bullhorn for Touchette to bellyache, maybe the reporter should have asked him what he thinks of ex-teammates who ruined a woman's life. Emphasizing the wrong points puts distance between the accused and their actual act. Therein lies the problem with how the media covers sexual assault.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.