The Power of Sport

Written by Greg Gilhooly, Sport Law

Why have I started working with the Sport Law team?

Because I believe in the power of sport.

Sport, when it’s at its best, can make us better. Sport can bring people together to forge communities of belonging. Sport can teach lessons that instils character and provide wonderful growth opportunities. I truly believe this because sport was all of that for me.

I played sports ever since I can remember. Baseball, soccer, football, golf, even games we made up that involved a combination of some, or all the above. But for me, hockey was my passion. I loved hockey, and I like to think that it kind of loved me right back. I was good at it, and it gave me a place to be me. As a result, I grew, learned how to succeed, and achieved things that I never would have otherwise believed possible.

I received the best that sport had to offer, and that changed my life.

The problem is that I also experienced the worst that sport has to offer. And that too changed my life.

While I was a teenager growing up in Winnipeg, I crossed paths with Graham James at a hockey tournament. My life was never the same after that. A somewhat random encounter set off a chain of events that had him involved in my life for over three years, until I went away to Princeton University. What started out as helpful mentoring turned into grooming and then overtime, much worse. I thought I’d finally escaped him once I left for university. I learned the hard way that you can never escape trauma. Abuse is far more involved and complicated, and victims of sexual abuse need a village of supporting people and professionals to learn how to process and heal from what happened.

I wrote a book about all of this: I Am Nobody - Confronting the Hockey Coach Who Stole My Life” (Greystone Books). You can read it, or just send me a note if you want to find out more or have any questions. I truly care about restoring health in the sport system and to be part of the solution. That’s why I’ve joined Sport Law … to bring my experience and expertise to a sport system that needs human centered and compassionate leadership.

I’m both a lawyer and a victim, and I believe that some good has come out of all of the bad. I believe that this dual perspective is a tremendous asset. For instance, I have seen firsthand how, and why, institutions can be easily exploited when they don’t have the proper mechanisms and legal protocols in place. I have also guided hundreds of organizations, ensuring they have updated by-laws and policies.

As sport continues to evolve, it will need to provide assurance to participants that the organizations are meeting their legal obligations and moral commitments to provide a safe environment for everyone. I have seen how sports organizations can make mistakes in responding in times of crisis and am committed to supporting those that want to ensure their response is trauma-informed, legally sound, and human centered.

What I went through profoundly changed me. I want to put that good fortune to use as I continue on my healing journey. Having seen what I’ve seen, both good and bad, I still believe in sport.

As a lawyer and victim, I understand why organizations must have the required policies and procedures in place to safeguard participants, ensure quality programming and good governance. I am deeply committed to supporting the healing and modernization process for the benefit of all sports.

And that’s why I’m working with the Sport Law team … to help elevate sport.

There’s a lot to do. Let’s get going!