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Player says U of O hockey scandal has ruined his reputation

Photo by Marta Kierkus.

Alexandre Touchette, a former member of the University of Ottawa’s men’s hockey team is reportedly playing in France in hopes of salvaging his career.

“I didn’t come to Ottawa just for the school, I went there to play hockey and the university took that away from me,” said Touchette according to Metro News.

The team came under fire after it was reported that some members of the team were involved in a sexual assault in Thunder Bay on Feb. 2.

The Gee-Gees were suspended by the University after an internal review found that “while the events in Thunder Bay represented an isolated incident, the behaviour of some players was unacceptable,” according to a press release.

“As soon as the school suspended the entire team and told the media about it my reputation was damaged,” said Touchette.

The news comes days after the former coach of the University of Ottawa’s men’s hockey team, Real Paiement, landed a job in France.

Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) ruled that the former Gee-Gees were allowed to transfer to other schools on Aug. 14. However many of the players felt the ruling came too late.

The U of O did not comment regarding Touchette but they did say ”that any players that were on athletic scholarships are still “receiving financial support for 2014 2015 despite the suspension of the hockey program.”

Thunder Bay police charged two former members of the hockey team, Guillaume Donovan and David Foucher, of sexual assault in late August.

 

Read more: Police investigate alleged sexual assault involving member’s of Gee-Gees men’s hockey team
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