Only a day after the players of Western’s women’s hockey team penned a letter to their school condemning the lack of action toward their allegations of abuse and misconduct by head coach Candice Moxley and strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watson, former players are now speaking out as well.
Western’s players stated they will boycott all future games and practices involving coach Candice Moxley, who is set to return from a leave of absence, despite ongoing calls for action from players.
Claire Balas, 26, who spent three seasons with Western from 2015 until 2019, posted a letter of her own on social media.
“I played under Candice Moxley during my fourth year, 2018-2019, and for a few months of the 2019-2020 season (my fifth year) before quitting due to the toxic environment created after Candice Moxley’s arrival. I am sure you can only imagine the anguish I felt quitting the sport I loved and had played my whole life one year early,” Balas wrote.
The former Durham West Lightning hockey player recently graduating from law school at Western, after earning an undergraduate degree in Management and Organization Studies. Balas, who was not one of the 45 people interviewed for Western’s investigation of Moxley, said she was “appalled” by the investigation, and called for transparency of the results.
“The investigation should be made public and should not have been completed by someone formerly on Western’s payroll. If Jeff Watson was fired, then so should Candice Moxley. This is utterly embarrassing. I have never recommended Western women’s hockey to a young girl while under head coach Candice Moxley, and I will continue not to.”
Watson was accused of sexual harassment by multiple players, an allegation Western substantiated in their investigations. Players also state they reported these allegations of sexual harassment to Moxley, who according to players, did not appropriately act given the severity of the allegations.
Balas concluded her letter saying the school has “made a joke” of their women’s hockey program, and that her “heart breaks” for players who have had to endure the current situation.