Former goaltender files lawsuit against Greyhounds

Former Soo Greyhounds goaltender Tucker Tynan is suing the team, according to a report by TSN's Rick Westhead.

Tynan is reportedly suing the team for $300,000, alleging team officials mishandled a shoulder injury, insulted him with derogatory slurs (at least one of which was racist), advised him to self-medicate for pain, and pressured him to play through the injury.

A statement of claim was filed earlier this month in Ontario Superior Court locally.

Tynan alleges that the Greyhounds engaged in reckless negligence and racial harassment over a period of weeks in the spring of 2022.

In a text message to TSN, Tynan wrote "...can only do my best and try to hold them accountable."

"Some things are out of my hands," Tynan also said.

TSN is also reporting that the Greyhounds have not yet filed a response.

SooToday was not immediately able to reach Greyhounds president Tim Lukenda at the time of writing, but in a statement to TSN, Lukenda confirmed that the Greyhounds had received Tynan's claim and that the organization intended "to vigorously defend the organization against the allegations made. Our players' well-being is of utmost importance to us, and we take great pride in the treatment of our players both on and off the ice."

OHL commissioner David Branch told TSN that the league does not plan to conduct an independent investigation of the team at this point.

“I understand that the Soo Greyhounds, with the full support of the OHL, intends to defend itself against the allegations made by Tynan,” Branch said in an emailed statement to TSN on Tuesday. “Given the nature of the allegations and the fact that the matter is before the court, the OHL currently has no intention of conducting an investigation.”

Tynan played with the Greyhounds for part of the 2021-22 OHL season after being acquired from the Niagara IceDogs.

SooToday will have more on this story . . .