Hockey Case

Justin and Ben were known for their passion for hockey. On the ice, they were competitors, but off it, they shared a love for the game that ran deep. However, one night during a heated match, everything changed. In a fit of rage, Justin attacked Ben, leaving him with a serious concussion and no memory of what had transpired. Both men’s lives were turned upside down.  

Ben, struggling with persistent concussion symptoms, couldn’t bring himself to return to the sport. His head was still foggy, and even the thought of playing again stirred anxiety in him. Physio appointments, stretches of hope, and then setbacks had defined his recovery. "I know I need to push myself," he confessed to his close friends, "but every time I try, the dizziness hits, and I’m just not the same."  

Justin, on the other hand, was devastated when he learned about Ben’s condition. Though he had no recollection of the incident, and truly believed he had been responding to an attack, when shown the footage, he was horrified. “I can’t believe I did that,” he tearfully admitted. “I thought I was being attacked. I was sure of it, but it was just me, lashing out. It’s a nightmare.”  

The two were brought together through the Collaborative Justice Program. Initially, Ben had reservations about making amends with Justin. He harboured a deep anger toward him. "Why did he do this?" he’d ask himself, replaying the events of that night in his mind. Justin, too, was filled with shame, avoiding eye contact whenever the incident was mentioned.  

Ben could not understand how Justin could forget something so violent, while Justin struggled with the reality of his actions, admitting, “I don’t know what came over me. I was angry, but what I did... there’s no excuse.”  

Over time, with the help of CJP and separate meetings between the facilitators and Ben and Justin, things began to shift. Justin apologized saying, “I have watched the video of the incident many times and have gone over it in my head many more. Each time it turns my stomach and I cannot justify it for any reason. The act was violent, unacceptable, and wrong. I want you to know that I acknowledge that.  I am devastated that I hurt you, and I have suffered in remorse and shame. If I could take it back or repeat that moment, I would make it right. That is not the person I wish to be.” 

 Justin received counselling; he read books, and focussed on improving his mental health, putting in the work to make a positive impact on his life. Ben began to sympathize with Justin’s troubled childhood and the reasons for his anger. Justin provided restitution to pay for Ben’s treatment.  

Both men realized they were suffering from the same loss—hockey, the game they loved, had been taken from them and they recognized this loss and its’ impact on each other. Justin could not bring himself to play again, haunted by guilt, while Ben’s injuries kept him away from the rink. “We’re both victims here,” Justin finally admitted. “I know I caused this, and I’ll never forgive myself, but I lost something too.”  

It was during one of the last meetings that an idea began to form. Why not try to use this experience to change the game? Ben and Justin thought about what they could do to try to make a difference, even something small. Together, they drafted a code of conduct to send to their league’s Commissioner, advocating for a commitment from each player to keep the games fun and the players safe, and to educate about the possible legal consequences for violent behaviour. They pushed for automatic suspensions and fines for any player who crossed the line, arguing that there needed to be real consequences to protect players' health and futures. “If we can prevent even one person from going through what we went through,” Ben said, “then maybe something good can come out of this.”  

Through the Collaborative Justice Program, they found common ground and, more importantly, a way to turn their pain into progress. The scars of their incident hadn’t healed entirely, but they had found a way forward and created good out of something horrible. They wished each other healing, closure and a happy future that includes hockey.