Former Everett Silvertips star Tyler Maxwell garnered attention earlier this year when he made several allegations about poor treatment during his Everett tenure to the Oregon State Senate Committee on Workforce.
That prompted the Western Hockey League to retain former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens to conduct an independent investigation. On Wednesday the WHL released a statement regarding the findings of the investigation.
The WHL statement said Callens investigated 14 allegations of unacceptable conditions while playing in the WHL and interviewed more than 50 people connected with Maxwell, and fellow former players James McEwan and Garrett Taylor. Callens found that all of the allegations made by Maxwell and McEwan “were either false or unfounded,” according to the WHL’s statement. “None of the allegations made by these former WHL players could be established as being accurate. Only one allegation, raised by Kim Taylor on behalf of her son Garrett, was supported by the evidence collected,” the statement said. The Taylor allegation was not specified in the statement.
“It is important to note that the experiences of the three players in this report are a reflection of their own personal journey and occurred between 2004 and 2012,” Callens wrote in his report. “There is no evidence to suggest that they are a reflection of the typical experience of a WHL player. All three had aspirations of playing hockey at the highest possible level. Each of the players went on to play professional hockey after the WHL.”
In his testimony, Maxwell, a Southern California native who played with the Silvertips from 2008-11, made several claims including that he was refused treatment for a broken kneecap on which he played seven games before finally receiving treatment.
He also testified that he was rushed back to the ice before he fully healed. Maxwell also took issue with the amount of time players were required to be at the rink, the provisions provided and the WHL scholarship program.
Maxwell did not respond to a text message or a phone message from The Daily Herald on Wednesday.
The bill for which the hearing was held, seeking an exemption to the Oregon minimum wage law for Portland Winterhawks players, died in committee.
CHL import draft takes place today
The annual Canadian Hockey League import draft takes place Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. Each CHL team is allowed two European-born players on its roster each season.
Everett general manager Garry Davidson said Slovakian forward Martin Fasko-Rudas, a 2000-born winger, is committed to returning next season so the Silvertips have only one import slot to fill.
The Tips pick 57th in the 60-team draft and that will be their only selection.
Wolf selected for USA Hockey camp
Everett goaltender Dustin Wolf, the heir apparent to Carter Hart, will participate in USA Hockey’s 2018 Boys Select 17 Player Development Camp on June 27-July 2 in Amherst, N.Y.
The event is one of several conducted by USA Hockey in choosing players to represent the program in international competitions.
Wolf was 13-6 last season with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage to go along with four shutouts while backing up Hart.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
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