User Overview
Rick Westhead 
Author, journalist with The Sports Network, CTV. Former Toronto Star foreign correspondent & contributor to NY Times 🇨🇦 rick.westhead@bellmedia.ca
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Tweets
13.8K
Following
802
Followers
60,610
Likes
2.10K
Listed
577
Followers and Following
Followers
Following
Tweet Stats
Analysed 7,196 tweets, tweets from the last 348 weeks.
Tweets Day of Week (UTC)
Tweets Hour of Day (UTC)
Key:
Tweets
Retweets
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Tweets Day and Hour Heatmap (UTC)
| Top Applications | Count | % |
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4,024 | 55.9% |
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1,853 | 25.8% |
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1,148 | 16.0% |
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99 | 1.4% |
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72 | 1.0% |
| Top Tweet Types | Count | % |
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| Tweet | 2,735 | 38.0% |
| Reply | 2,041 | 28.4% |
| Quote | 1,738 | 24.2% |
| Retweet | 836 | 11.6% |
| Top Content Types | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| URL | 2,910 | 40.4% |
| Photo | 877 | 12.2% |
| Video | 55 | 0.8% |
| GIF | 3 | 0.0% |
| Top Domains in URLs | Count | % |
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47 | 24.6% |
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18 | 9.4% |
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15 | 7.9% |
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6 | 3.1% |
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5 | 2.6% |
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5 | 2.6% |
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4 | 2.1% |
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4 | 2.1% |
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@sbtricky29
| Top Hashtags | Count | % |
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| #rio2016 | 41 | 0.6% |
| #nhl | 28 | 0.4% |
| #bluejays | 20 | 0.3% |
| #bellletstalk | 8 | 0.1% |
| #tsnhockey | 8 | 0.1% |
| #tsn | 6 | 0.1% |
| #sportsbiz | 6 | 0.1% |
| #fifa | 6 | 0.1% |
| #can | 5 | 0.1% |
| #nhlpa | 4 | 0.1% |
| #ohl | 4 | 0.1% |
| #cfl | 4 | 0.1% |
| #worldjuniors | 3 | 0.0% |
| #concussion | 3 | 0.0% |
| #whl | 3 | 0.0% |
| #blackhawks | 2 | 0.0% |
| #nfl | 2 | 0.0% |
| #onthisday | 2 | 0.0% |
| #covid19 | 2 | 0.0% |
| #coronavirus | 2 | 0.0% |
| #teamcanada | 2 | 0.0% |
| #boxing | 2 | 0.0% |
| #msdstrong | 2 | 0.0% |
| #tsnoriginal | 2 | 0.0% |
| #n | 2 | 0.0% |
| #chl | 2 | 0.0% |
| #esports | 2 | 0.0% |
| #toronto | 2 | 0.0% |
| #rememberthem | 2 | 0.0% |
| #jays | 2 | 0.0% |
| #mlb | 2 | 0.0% |
| #zikavirus | 2 | 0.0% |
| #redsox | 2 | 0.0% |
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| Top Words | Count | % |
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| players | 1,040 | 14.5% |
| lawsuit | 378 | 5.3% |
| canadian | 361 | 5.0% |
| teams | 339 | 4.7% |
| concussion | 249 | 3.5% |
| athletes | 237 | 3.3% |
| abuse | 221 | 3.1% |
| covid | 211 | 2.9% |
| blackhawks | 205 | 2.8% |
| judge | 202 | 2.8% |
| olympic | 200 | 2.8% |
| chl | 185 | 2.6% |
| bettman | 174 | 2.4% |
| nhlpa | 172 | 2.4% |
| before | 170 | 2.4% |
| lawyer | 168 | 2.3% |
| during | 159 | 2.2% |
| nfl | 158 | 2.2% |
| russian | 155 | 2.2% |
| being | 152 | 2.1% |
| ontario | 152 | 2.1% |
| any | 151 | 2.1% |
| olympics | 148 | 2.1% |
| govt | 144 | 2.0% |
| russia | 143 | 2.0% |
| filed | 137 | 1.9% |
| ohl | 136 | 1.9% |
| reporting | 135 | 1.9% |
| jays | 128 | 1.8% |
| investigation | 127 | 1.8% |
| cte | 126 | 1.8% |
| cases | 122 | 1.7% |
| medical | 122 | 1.7% |
| concussions | 121 | 1.7% |
| coronavirus | 121 | 1.7% |
| committee | 114 | 1.6% |
| weeks | 113 | 1.6% |
| because | 112 | 1.6% |
| gary | 112 | 1.6% |
| lawyers | 105 | 1.5% |
| wage | 104 | 1.4% |
| study | 103 | 1.4% |
| reports | 102 | 1.4% |
| tsn | 101 | 1.4% |
| allegations | 100 | 1.4% |
| hearing | 100 | 1.4% |
| reported | 100 | 1.4% |
| months | 100 | 1.4% |
| mlb | 100 | 1.4% |
| since | 99 | 1.4% |
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| Top Emojis | Count | % |
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| 🙏 Folded Hands | 20 | 0.3% |
| ❤ Heavy Black Heart | 14 | 0.2% |
| 👇 Backhand Index Pointing Down | 10 | 0.1% |
| 👏 Clapping Hands | 7 | 0.1% |
| 👊 Oncoming Fist | 5 | 0.1% |
| 💯 Hundred Points | 3 | 0.0% |
| 🎶 Musical Notes | 3 | 0.0% |
| 🤞 Crossed Fingers | 2 | 0.0% |
| 🏆 Trophy | 2 | 0.0% |
| 🎵 Musical Note | 2 | 0.0% |
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Tweets
Victor Mete says he "only learned of the situation recently through media reports."
If the law firm hired by Hockey Canada truly conducted an exhaustive investigation of sexual assault allegations, why wasn’t Mete contacted & interviewed four years ago?
If the law firm hired by Hockey Canada truly conducted an exhaustive investigation of sexual assault allegations, why wasn’t Mete contacted & interviewed four years ago?
Victor Mete says he "only learned of the situation recently through media reports."
If the law firm hired by Hockey Canada truly conducted an exhaustive investigation of sexual assault allegations, why wasn’t Mete contacted & interviewed four years ago?
If the law firm hired by Hockey Canada truly conducted an exhaustive investigation of sexual assault allegations, why wasn’t Mete contacted & interviewed four years ago?
Here is my statement regarding the ongoing Hockey Canada investigation: pic.twitter.com/bE3WnuxyLU
MP Kevin Waugh told me today that since Hockey Canada execs testified 10 days ago, he's been contacted by 3 people who haven't shared their stories before now who say they were sexually assaulted in connection with hockey.
Waugh: "No doubt there will be more."
@KevinWaugh_CPC
Waugh: "No doubt there will be more."
@KevinWaugh_CPC
Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦 weekend to everyone... and especially to Leo Colaiacovo and family.
So happy that you are finished with chemo and moving forward with life! ❤️❤️
So happy that you are finished with chemo and moving forward with life! ❤️❤️
✌🏼out chemo!
After 3+ years & over 1000 doses of chemo, we are elated to share that our brave & 💪 son, Leo, has finally finished his chemotherapy treatments for Leukemia & we are incredibly proud of him!! Thank you to everyone for your ❤️ & support. We are forever grateful 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Gus7iVBNK7
After 3+ years & over 1000 doses of chemo, we are elated to share that our brave & 💪 son, Leo, has finally finished his chemotherapy treatments for Leukemia & we are incredibly proud of him!! Thank you to everyone for your ❤️ & support. We are forever grateful 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Gus7iVBNK7
Tim Hortons is suspending its support of the World Juniors and plans to re-evaluate its sponsorship of Hockey Canada, as the organization faces growing backlash from corporate partners over its payment to settle sexual-assault allegations
theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tgam/UTAJI5UPMJAE7KTW4GTCFYLDAM.jpg)
Tim Hortons suspending World Juniors sponsorship over sexual assault allegations
theglobeandmail.com
Hearing agent for one player on Canada's 2018 World Jrs team who attended London gala hired a criminal lawyer days after incident.
Criminal lawyer allegedly spoke to London Crown Attny as part of investigation & wrote report that purports to exonerate player.
(Report not public.)
Criminal lawyer allegedly spoke to London Crown Attny as part of investigation & wrote report that purports to exonerate player.
(Report not public.)
Hearing agent for one player on Canada's 2018 World Jrs team who attended London gala hired a criminal lawyer days after incident.
Criminal lawyer allegedly spoke to London Crown Attny as part of investigation & wrote report that purports to exonerate player.
(Report not public.)
Criminal lawyer allegedly spoke to London Crown Attny as part of investigation & wrote report that purports to exonerate player.
(Report not public.)
UPDATE: Have heard back from Canadian Tire Corporation. According to statement they are "immediately withdrawing its sponsorship support for the upcoming World Juniors and is re-evaluating its relationship with Hockey Canada."
A Muslim man won the Stanley Cup. I wrote about it because it matters to my community - and many other communities like mine. My latest for @cbcsports. cbc.ca/sports/nazem-k…
OPINION | When Nazem Kadri hoisted the Stanley Cup, he lifted a whole community along with it | CBC Sports
cbc.ca
NHL players skated in the playoffs w/ fractures, sprains, muscle tears, meniscus injuries, torn hip flexors, separated shoulders & sprained necks.
One agent: “Some clubs couldn’t have iced a team without Toradol & painkillers.”
Are long-term health risks of meds being disclosed?
One agent: “Some clubs couldn’t have iced a team without Toradol & painkillers.”
Are long-term health risks of meds being disclosed?
Scotiabank has paused its Hockey Canada sponsorship and canceled its marketing and events at the upcoming World Juniors as a federal government committee continues to scrutinize its response to a 2018 sexual assault allegation.
Story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1818526
Story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1818526
NEWS: Scotiabank is pausing its sponsorship with Hockey Canada until the organization takes certain steps "to improve the culture within the sport - both on and off the ice," according to letter to open letter from President CEO Brian J. Porter
Toradol is a helluva drug.
"When the injury report comes out, you guys are going to be shocked."
An emotional Pat Maroon talks about the sting of the @TBLightning loss, the team playing through injuries, what all the team has accomplished and more. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/md2HfuNxWP
An emotional Pat Maroon talks about the sting of the @TBLightning loss, the team playing through injuries, what all the team has accomplished and more. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/md2HfuNxWP
Alphonso Davies was recently declared Canada's most marketable athlete in a study and in the past weeks, he's renewed his contract with Nike, signed a new deal with BMO, and is now negotiating with companies in the NFT and credit-card sectors.
Davies is in demand.
Davies is in demand.
Canadian men’s national soccer team player Alphonso Davies has signed a five-year sponsorship with Bank of Montreal, giving the bank a tie to one of Canada’s most recognizable young sports superstars.
Story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1818298 pic.twitter.com/JfQri8orbF
Story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1818298 pic.twitter.com/JfQri8orbF
Gymnastics Canada CEO Ian Moss wrote in an Aug 2020 email to a govt official he was concerned “there could, very soon, be a wave of historic athlete complaints…there is an outpouring of concern and support and a new level of ‘bravery’ within the retired athlete community...” pic.twitter.com/7H3xf3NFSf
Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi in a 2019 email to colleagues: “We are now receiving info from 10-30 years ago that would fall into criminal category” but Canadian police depts “caught off guard and very hesitant” to open criminal investigations of historical cases. pic.twitter.com/orDpx7At6T
Gymnastics Canada CEO Ian Moss wrote in an Aug 2020 email to a govt official he was concerned “there could, very soon, be a wave of historic athlete complaints…there is an outpouring of concern and support and a new level of ‘bravery’ within the retired athlete community...” pic.twitter.com/7H3xf3NFSf
Gymnastics Canada CEO Ian Moss wrote in an Aug 2020 email to a govt official he was concerned “there could, very soon, be a wave of historic athlete complaints…there is an outpouring of concern and support and a new level of ‘bravery’ within the retired athlete community...” pic.twitter.com/7H3xf3NFSf
Have been reviewing govt documents/emails related to athlete abuse obtained via Canada’s Access to Information legislation. Many reporting leads and some correspondence that caught my eye.
One player agent who reps an NHL player who was on Canada's 2018 World Juniors team told me he's consulting a criminal lawyer & expects NHL to compel players to cooperate, even those who weren't in London who could shed light on whether there was a group chat/texts/pic sharing.
I also spoke today with MPs and govt officials who want answers from Hockey Canada and asked them how they will address calls for accountability in other sports facing abuse allegations such as soccer, gymnastics, artistic swimming, bobsleigh, and wrestling. Will keep asking.
An internal investigation reported Iowa State's hockey team hazed new members by requiring alcohol abuse, underage drinking, or public humiliation at team events.
The Iowa State Hockey Club was suspended from operations for the upcoming 2022-23 season following an internal investigation of the program. The investigation started in May because of hazing allegations. bit.ly/3OGWcAB
MP John Nater: "Hockey Canada says this has not been swept under the rug, but it has been. It's been kept quiet for four years... After these hearings in July, there is nothing stopping the committee from scheduling meetings later in summer or in the fall as well."
MP Peter Julian: "The testimony we heard from Hockey Canada was pathetic and we wanted to get right back to this important issue. Hockey Canada this week somehow seemed proud of an investigation in which half or three quarters of the team chose not to cooperate."
MP Peter Julian: "The testimony we heard from Hockey Canada was pathetic and we wanted to get right back to this important issue. Hockey Canada this week somehow seemed proud of an investigation in which half or three quarters of the team chose not to cooperate."
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage will convene hearings on July 27 and 28 to further scrutinize Hockey Canada’s response a 2018 sexual assault allegation, the parliamentary committee said on Thursday.
Full story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1816813 pic.twitter.com/uIjDWNf8hm
Full story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1816813 pic.twitter.com/uIjDWNf8hm
New: The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage will convene summer hearings to investigate Hockey Canada. Committee will meet July 26 & 27 and will invite Hockey Canada, Henein Hutchinson investigators and Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge to testify.
"We recognize that as leaders we need to do more..." Hockey Canada releases a statement today, a day after Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge announced the federation's funding will be frozen until it meets certain conditions. Hockey Canada statement: pic.twitter.com/2kU4NtIPSi
Among the questions one MP told me need to be answered by Hockey Canada or Henein Hutchinson investigators: *Were player interviews recorded? *What specific questions were asked of players? *Was there an attempt to obtain CCTV footage from the Delta London Armouries Hotel?
We've submitted our first feature-length documentary for consideration to @TIFF_NET.
Friends and colleagues at @TSN_Sports and @CTVW5 have been so committed to this over the past 5 years and it has been a heavy lift. We're hopeful for September.🤞
Friends and colleagues at @TSN_Sports and @CTVW5 have been so committed to this over the past 5 years and it has been a heavy lift. We're hopeful for September.🤞
London, Ontario's Shaedon Sharpe is something of a mystery, because he's doing something very few players have ever done - going to the NBA having never played in college.
But, as Rick Westhead explains, his path to this point has never been a straight line.
But, as Rick Westhead explains, his path to this point has never been a straight line.
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage agreed during a private meeting tonight to extend its study into how Hockey Canada has managed abuse complaints, a source tells me. Expect hearings this fall to also scrutinize other national sports organizations.
Canada's House of Commons has unanimously approved a motion from Bloc Quebecois MP Sebastien Lemire to pursue an independent investigation of how Hockey Canada managed sexual assault allegations in June 2018.
Several MPs said that they also want information about how many abuse complaints are received and investigated by provincial hockey federations across Canada. I expect Hockey Canada will be a topic of discussion again today during question period.
Enjoyed getting to know Shaedon and his family over the past few months. Terrific work on this story from @TSNMattCade, @CurryLeamen, @TSNCraig, Jacob Frenkel and Martin Luud.
High school ➡️ NBA.
🇨🇦 Shaedon Sharpe is a 'Mystery Man' ahead of the NBA Draft.
Tonight on @SportsCentre. pic.twitter.com/0R3P4rUFpL
🇨🇦 Shaedon Sharpe is a 'Mystery Man' ahead of the NBA Draft.
Tonight on @SportsCentre. pic.twitter.com/0R3P4rUFpL
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is also scheduled to meet in private in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon to discuss holding additional public hearings and demanding evidence from Hockey Canada about the federation’s oversight of sexual abuse complaints and investigations.
Hockey Canada recently applied for $2.2 million in federal money to help with the organization’s recovery from COVID-19, St-Onge told me. That money will not be paid out until the government’s conditions are met.
Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge: “This is about changing a deeply entrenched culture, it’s not about simple Band-Aid solutions... I am going to use all the tools at my disposal to make sure that people are held accountable for what’s happening in hockey.”
Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge: “This is about changing a deeply entrenched culture, it’s not about simple Band-Aid solutions... I am going to use all the tools at my disposal to make sure that people are held accountable for what’s happening in hockey.”
The federal government is freezing Hockey Canada’s funding until the organization signs up with a new federal agency that has the power to receive and investigate abuse complaints and issue sanctions for inappropriate behaviour.
Story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1816169 pic.twitter.com/QZwRuYnx27
Story from @rwesthead: tsn.ca/1.1816169 pic.twitter.com/QZwRuYnx27
I connected with several MPs after Monday's hearing who said they want more info from Hockey Canada about its other sexual assault investigations.
One MP was angry there's an NDA in this case, which may bar the complainant from speaking with NHL investigators if she wanted to.
One MP was angry there's an NDA in this case, which may bar the complainant from speaking with NHL investigators if she wanted to.
I connected with several MPs after Monday's hearing who said they want more info from Hockey Canada about its other sexual assault investigations.
One MP was angry there's an NDA in this case, which may bar the complainant from speaking with NHL investigators if she wanted to.
One MP was angry there's an NDA in this case, which may bar the complainant from speaking with NHL investigators if she wanted to.
Hockey Canada says players weren’t required to participate in assault investigation.
@rwesthead HAS MORE: tsn.ca/rick-westhead-… pic.twitter.com/prXvL1mzrY
@rwesthead HAS MORE: tsn.ca/rick-westhead-… pic.twitter.com/prXvL1mzrY
MP John Nater says there has been no accountability in this case. Nater: "No one lost the privilege of wearing the maple leaf...every player who was in London should have been mandated to participate in the investigation... or no longer be affiliated with [Hockey Canada]."
The choice of language here is interesting and brings to mind these comments by Hockey Canada when I asked about NDAs last year. twitter.com/rwesthead/stat…
MP asks if there an NDA exists in connection with settling the sexual abuse lawsuit. Smith: "The minutes of settlement are covered under settlement privilege."
Hockey Canada's Dominick Saillant told me in Nov that victims who settle abuse lawsuits are “certainly free to discuss their individual circumstances” although they are “general limited” from making public financial terms of settlements. Unclear if there's an NDA in this case.
Hockey Canada's Scott Smith says London police advised it closed criminal investigation in Feb 2019. HC was told during summer 2019 by woman's attorney that she may offer a written statement. "She never followed through on that," Smith said. HC closed investigation in Sept 2020.
Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney is asked if the eight players allegedly involved should be known and identified. Renney: "We are certainly paying very close attention to the young woman and her wishes."
An hour in and no one yet has asked if the woman who filed this lawsuit is bound by a non-disclosure agreement as a condition of settling this case. A bit surprising.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather asks how many other allegations of sexual abuse hsve been received by HC in past ten years. HC President Scott Smith says the organization has had one or two cases on an annual basis over the past five or six years.
