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Rick Westhead

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Rick Westhead (born 1971) is a Canadian sports correspondent, investigative journalist, and author. He previously reported on foreign affairs for the Toronto Star[1] and is known for his investigative journalism, particularly in ice hockey. He has written extensively about sexual assault scandals in sports. He is a senior correspondent for TSN.[2]

Career

[edit]

Westhead previously worked in New Jersey and New Brunswick.

He began his sports reporting career as a freelancer for The New York Times.[3] He reported on foreign affairs for the Toronto Star and moved overseas.[4] He then accepted a role as a correspondent for TSN. He has criticised the NHL and its lack of care for players like Joe Murphy who suffered from concussions and mental illness and ended up homeless.[5] In 2021, Westhead interviewed Kyle Beach in an exclusive interview for TSN; Beach was a victim of sexual assault when he played for the Chicago Blackhawks.[6]

Westhead received an anonymous tip, which led to the exposure of the sexual assault lawsuit against the victim E.M. and the 2018 Canadian World Junior team.[7] His reporting on the scandal in May 2022 led to the reveal of Hockey Canada's sexual assault settlement fund.[8]

His first book, Finding Murph, explores and criticizes the NHL and its lack of care for players who experience concussions and CTE.[9] In November 2025, his best-selling book We Breed Lions was published. Westhead's writing focuses on analyzing the toxic hockey culture in Canada and the sexual assault trial in 2025.[10] He is donating all proceeds from this book to the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and other charitable organizations focused on gender-based violence.[11]

We Breed Lions was shortlisted for the Trillium Book Award for English Prose in 2026.[12] In the same year, Westhead was featured in Code of Misconduct, Sébastien Trahan's documentary film about the Hockey Canada scandal.[13]

Westhead currently works as a senior correspondent for TSN, as well as reporting for CTV.[9]

Personal life

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Westhead was born in 1971 in Oakville, Ontario. His mother gave birth to him when she was 15 years old and put him up for adoption. He was adopted into a family with three other siblings; two biological children and another adopted daughter.[14] He met his birth mother for the first time in 1997, and learned that he has three half-siblings.

He is an alumna of Toronto Metropolitan University, and graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.[9][15] He currently resides in Ontario and regularly plays hockey recreationally in Toronto.[8] Westhead has two sons. One of his sons was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021.[16]

Works

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  • Finding Murph: How Joe Murphy Went From Winning a Championship to Living Homeless in the Bush (2020)
  • We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture (2025)

Awards

[edit]
Award Year Category Work Result Ref
Canadian Screen Awards 2016 Best Sports Feature Segment "Favela United"
with Josh Shiaman, Darren Oliver, Devon Burns, Kevin Fallis		 Nominated
2017 "Radical Play"
with Josh Shiaman, Jason Wessel, Darren Oliver, Kevin Fallis		 Won [17]
2019 "Finding Murph"
with Josh Shiaman, Stuart Roberts, Devon Burns, Michael Banani		 Won [18]
2020 "Phonzie"
with Josh Shiaman, Jason Wessel, Kevin Fallis, Jacob Frenkel		 Nominated
2021 "The Unwanted Visitor"
with Josh Shiaman, Michael Banani, Devon Burns, Ken Volden		 Nominated
2023 "Left Behind"
with Josh Shiaman, Nigel Akam, Darren Oliver, Michael Banani		 Won [19]
Best Host or Interviewer, News or Information Program or Series That's Hockey Nominated
2024 Best Documentary Program Broken: The Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics
with Ken Volden, Matt Cade, Brett Mitchell, Paul Harrington, Riley Nimens		 Won [20]
Trillium Book Award 2026 English Prose We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture Pending [12]

References

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  1. ↑ Star, Toronto (2014-07-27). "Rick Westhead". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2026-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "Rick Westhead | Penguin Random House". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  3. ↑ Craig, Lindsey (January 30, 2026). "Rick Westhead brings hockey's hard truths to TMU". Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  4. ↑ [dead link]
  5. ↑ Droit, Émilie Gougeon-Pelletier (2022-08-26). "Rick Westhead: le journaliste derrière le scoop de Hockey Canada". Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  6. ↑ TSN (2021-10-27). Kyle Beach speaks with Rick Westhead about his lawsuit against the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Retrieved 2026-02-14 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Henry, Sean (November 20, 2025). "Sports journalist Rick Westhead on his new book We Breed Lions". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2026-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. 1 2 Milton, Anthony (2025-11-20). ""The culture and systems around hockey need to be better": Rick Westhead on his new book, We Breed Lions". Toronto Life. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  9. 1 2 3 Jonah, Aidan (December 18, 2020). "RSJ alum explores a devastating fall from grace". Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  10. ↑ Westhead, Rick (2025-10-29). "Excerpt from Rick Westhead's new book We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada's Troubled Hockey Culture". CTVNews. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  11. ↑ Leal, Andre (2025-12-20). "Rick Westhead Spotlights Canada's Troubled Hockey Culture: 'I Need People Who Are In This Game To Read This Book'". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  12. 1 2 Cassandra Drudi, "Nina Dunic, Rick Westhead, Canisia Lubrin among 2026 Trillium Book Award finalists". Quill & Quire, May 5, 2026.
  13. ↑ Olivia Bowden, "‘Code of Misconduct’ is a Disturbing Look at the Psychology Behind Hockey’s Toxic Culture". The Grind, April 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ Westhead, Rick (2010-12-30). "My first series: My first meeting with mom". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  15. ↑ Westhead, Rick. "Rick Westhead". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  16. ↑ "Rick Westhead gives thanks to SickKids - NEWSTALK1010". omny.fm. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  17. ↑ Joel Levy, "2017 Canadian Screen Awards Winners for Non-Fiction Programming". Toronto Guardian, March 7, 2017.
  18. ↑ Connie Thiessen, "CBC’s the fifth estate among big winners at Canadian Screen Awards Non-Fiction Gala". Broadcast Dialogue, March 26, 2019.
  19. ↑ Connie Thiessen, "2023 Canadian Screen Awards: Sports Programming Awards winners". Broadcast Dialogue, April 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ Connie Thiessen, "Canadian Screen Awards winners: Documentary, Factual, Lifestyle & Reality". Broadcast Dialogue, May 30, 2024.
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