Hockey Canada sexual assault trial acquittals ignite fury as toxic locker room culture and sexist branding persist

The Hockey Canada sexual assault trial has concluded, with the five accused players acquitted, yet the profound discussions about the sport's deep-seated culture persist. Despite the legal outcome, advocates stress the critical need to confront and alter ingrained attitudes toward women and sexuality, reaching far beyond the confines of the locker room.HockeyBenders, a popular Canadian apparel brand, unveils a troubling trend. They market T-shirts for "$35" and "children’s sizes" hoodies with the slogan "Barduzz, Gettin Huzz," "Loosely translated" as: "Scoring goals, getting hoes." Their videos query teens on "how many blondes" and "how many puck bunnies" they know, with one labeled "lover boy," another a "quality over quantity guy.”While founder Cole Lequier, 25, asserts he "felt like, growing up, there wasn’t many hockey clothing brands that had relatable slogans and sayings for hockey players," and "So I saw a huge, huge gap in the market," critics like Andrea DeKeseredy, a sexual assault counselor, strongly contradict.She views these products as a stern refusal of hockey culture to evolve, phrasing, "It shows the lack of true critical self-reflection and introspection that is occurring in Canadian hockey," and profoundly, "It makes me sad. It’s the opposite of what should be happening."The judge, Justice Maria Carroccia, interpreted that "It is not the function of this court to make determinations about the morality or propriety of the conduct of any of the persons involved in these events. The sole function of this court is to determine whether the Crown has proven each of the charges against each of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt." However, the trial heard how one player invited others to his room for a "3 way," and texted a teammate to come for a "gummer." The complainant, E.M., described players discussing putting golf balls and clubs into her, though she initially told police this was said "in a joking manner."The National Hockey League dubiously condemned the conduct, affirming, "The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable."HockeyBenders, yet, defends its content, with an email from "The Hockeybenders Team" stating, "The boys are two hardworking young hockey entrepreneurs and make videos for people to enjoy and laugh that’s it. And like to keep everything they do positive. They like to stay in their own lane with their fans and followers!"Katherine Henderson, Hockey Canada's new CEO, finds such language on children's clothing "disgusting," acknowledging the sport must confront these problematic attitudes.The Hockey Canada trial, despite its verdicts, spotlights persistent cultural issues. Brands like HockeyBenders illustrate ongoing misanthrope attitudes. While the NHL and Hockey Canada aim for change, truly transforming the sport to foster respect and accountability remains a significant, demanding journey, requiring continuous introspection.Also Read: Hockey Canada sexual assault verdict clears players but ignites outrage over justice system and survivor treatmentBecause many believe the verdict overlooked a deeper culture of misogyny and entitlement in Canadian hockey.It’s facing backlash for promoting sexist slogans that critics say glorify toxic locker room behavior.