This statement is in response to the comments of Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles regarding the Greater Toronto Hockey League on April 25, 2023 at Queen’s Park.
There have been recent reports in the media about allegations of GTHL clubs changing hands, and the control of Teams being given for large sums of money.
The GTHL is aware of these allegations and has already launched an independent investigation. The independent investigation, as was mentioned by Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Neil Lumsden in response to Ms. Stiles’ comments, is being led by a former police detective Michael A. Davis (http://madavispi.com/), and is being overseen by a retired Ontario judge.
The GTHL has 80 member organizations that includes a total of 30 House Leagues and 50 Competitive (‘A,’ ‘AA,’ ‘AAA’) members. Each Member is responsible to operate its Teams and conduct its activities in accordance with the applicable bylaws, regulations, policies, and rules of the GTHL, the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), and Hockey Canada, in addition to the Member’s own internal regulations and policies. Each GTHL Member is required to operate as a not-for-profit corporation.
When a Member proposes to effect a change of control, approval of the GTHL Board of Directors is required. The Board, through its Membership Committee, conducts due diligence on the people intending to assume control and on the terms of the transfer of control.
The GTHL Board will not approve the transfer of control of an organization in which there is an inappropriate financial transaction involved. The giving over of control of a team to a parent for a fee is prohibited. However, the League has legal and practical limitations on the information it can access. The GTHL, as with any sport governing body, relies on the good faith of Club and Team Officials to be forthright in providing relevant information to the GTHL.
Upon the conclusion of the independent investigation, if it is found that misrepresentations were made to the League in connection with changes of control of certain clubs or other financial improprieties are confirmed, the League, as per GTHL regulations, will not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions, including expulsion.
If any individual has information to indicate any inappropriate financial transaction involving Clubs or individual Teams, they are encouraged to contact Mr. Davis directly. Anonymity will be respected.
ABOUT THE GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Founded in 1911, the GTHL is a non-profit organization and the largest minor hockey league in the world. The GTHL registers more than 40,000 annual participants in Markham, Mississauga, Toronto and Vaughan. The purpose of the GTHL is to govern organized hockey for youth within its jurisdiction, and to foster participation that reflects the cultural demographic of the League’s territory while promoting an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all participants.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Coratti
Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing
Greater Toronto Hockey League
SCoratti@GTHLCanada.com
