We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada's Troubled Hockey Culture

We Breed Lions examines hockey's reckoning in Canada following recent court cases involving sexual assault, hazing, and abuse in junior hockey. In June 2018, five National Hockey League players, all 18 to 20-year-old Canada World Juniors at the time, were alleged to have sexually assaulted a young woman in a London, Ontario, hotel room. When the alleged victim reported the incident to police, the players allegedly coerced her to drop the complaint. Hockey Canada settled the case confidentially using a secret fund worth millions of dollars. On May 26, 2022, TSN investigative reporter Rick Westhead broke the story, prompting widespread discussion across the country. The players were acquitted of all charges in July 2025, yet debate about the state of Canadian hockey intensified. Westhead's investigation gives voice to sexual assault victims and explores how misogyny and homophobia persist in hockey culture. He documents hazing rituals and examines how league officials, team owners, and governing bodies prioritize profit over player and community well-being. The book also profiles individuals and organizations working to promote consent education, eliminate hazing, and redefine masculinity in hockey. It includes a foreword by Stephen Brunt.