Just a few weeks ago, Lanigan was in the spotlight for its hometown hockey hero, Sheldon Brookbank, bringing the Stanley Cup to town.
Now it has received national attention, this time for what's been dubbed "hockey-stick hazing" by some media outlets.
Eleven male youths have been charged with various degrees of assault stemming from a hazing incident in which high school freshmen from Lanigan Central High School were apparently paddled with a hockey goalie stick, its blade sawed off.
Some of the victims, all male, allegedly received injuries such as severe bruising, with one sustaining muscle damage to his leg and buttocks.
There have been 34 charges laid in total.
Brayden Braun, 18, is charged with one count of assault with a weapon.
Kyle Ekstrom, also 18, is charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm and three counts of assault with a weapon.
The nine other male teens charged in the case are under the age of 18, so their names are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Canada.
The event was an annual "freshie" party that took place in a field a few kilometres outside of Lanigan, where senior students of the school performed initiation acts on Grade 9 and 10 students by dumping eggs, flour and chocolate syrup on them, along with the paddling, according to RCMP.
About 150 teens attended the party, police said, and they believe there are numerous victims aside from the five that have come forward.
In a public letter, Horizon School Division director of education Marc Danylchuk said the division doesn't condone such events, and is "saddened and shocked" by the incident.
The high school sent a letter to parents before the party occurred, warning them about hazing rituals and stating their belief that high school initiation is no longer fun but harmful "degrading and humiliating behavior."
They then asked parents to think over their child's maturity level and their ability to handle alcohol and hazing games at "freshie" parties.
In a follow-up letter after the Sept. 6 hazing incident, the school said they were "saddened" to learn of the events that took place, offering to support students through the aftermath, saying the school "must remain a safe place for all students."
They also reminded the public that despite the fall-out coming to the school, the initiation events took place outside of school hours.
All eleven charged will be appearing in Humboldt Provincial Court on Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.
