A cybersecurity expert says rules banning cell phones from minor league hockey locker rooms are strong enough, they just need to be followed.
Carmi Levy spoke to XFM after news broke that a U-15 hockey team with the West London Minor Hockey team has been disbanded. This comes after reports of videos being taken of the players in the showers.
Reports say videos were taken of the players and posted on the social media app Snapchat. It is not confirmed what arena the incident happened.
Two players are suspended and three coaches are suspended indefinitely, pending a disciplinary hearing.
StarTech Community Centre, home ice for the team | Credit: City of London
Hockey Canada states that two adults, who have passed a background check, must be monitoring the locker room, and no cellphones or cameras are allowed in the locker room.
“It’s not that the rules are inadequate,” says Carmi Levy, a technology analyst and journalist. “They’re properly worded… but in this case they clearly weren’t enforced.”
Players not involved in the incident were given the opportunity to play for other teams in the league, said Tait Williamson, the president of West London Minor Hockey.
The two players involved will be investigated by Hockey Canada’s independent third party process.
“The ITP does not investigate or adjudicate complaints, but it ensures that complaints are processed in a confidential, neutral and procedurally fair manner,” Hockey Canada Chief of Staff Jeremy Knight said in a statement on Thursday.
XFM News reached out for further comments from Hockey Canada, but they were unavailable.
The London Police Service released a statement.
“The London Police Service is aware of a post circulating on social media involving a local boys’ hockey team. As the post relates to an ongoing investigation, there is no further information appropriate for release at this time,” it said.
Levy said the best way to stay safe is to be aware of your surroundings and to not be afraid to report incidents in the locker room.
Williamson released a statement as well.
