NHL players Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils and Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames have been charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged assault by several members of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 2018 world junior team.
Attorneys representing Hart, McLeod, Foote and Dube said Tuesday that each player has been charged with sexual assault by police in London, Ontario. They denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their clients.
HartB次元官网网址檚 lawyers, Megan Savard and Riaz Sayani, said their client is facing one count of sexual assault, adding, B次元官网网址淗e is innocent and will provide a full response to this false accusation in the proper forum, a court of law.B次元官网网址�
Legal teams representing McLeod and Dube said the players would be pleading not guilty.
B次元官网网址�(We) will vigorously defend the case,B次元官网网址� McLeodB次元官网网址檚 attorneys, David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein, said in a statement. B次元官网网址淲e ask that the public respect Mr. McLeodB次元官网网址檚 privacy, and his familyB次元官网网址檚 privacy. Because the matter is now before the court, we will not comment further at this time.B次元官网网址�
DubeB次元官网网址檚 lawyers, Louis Strezos and Kayleigh Davidson, said their client B次元官网网址渕aintains his innocence (and) will defend the allegations in court.B次元官网网址�
FooteB次元官网网址檚 lawyer, Julianna Greenspan, said her client was B次元官网网址渋nnocent of the charge and will defend himself against this allegation to clear his name.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hat is most critical at this time is the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial that everyone in Canada is entitled to,B次元官网网址� Greenspan said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. B次元官网网址淎s the matter is before the court, I ask that CalB次元官网网址檚 and his familyB次元官网网址檚 privacy be respected.B次元官网网址�
A Devils spokesperson said the organization is aware of the reports and have been told to refer all inquiries to the league. A Flyers spokesman echoed a similar sentiment, saying the team B次元官网网址渨ill respond appropriately to this very serious matter when the outcomes of the investigations are made public.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e have now become aware of the charge of sexual assault that has been laid against Dillon Dube,B次元官网网址� the Flames said in a statement. B次元官网网址淲e take this matter very seriously. Because the matter is now pending legal proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time.B次元官网网址�
The NHL was not expected to address the situation Tuesday. Commissioner Gary Bettman is set to speak at the leagueB次元官网网址檚 upcoming All-Star Weekend.
The latest developments in the case come two days after former NHL player Alex Formenton surrendered to police to face charges. Attorney Daniel Brown said Formenton is innocent B次元官网网址渁nd asks that people not rush to judgment without hearing all of the evidence.B次元官网网址�
All five players have taken leave from their current clubs over the past 10 days. Their agents have not spoken publicly since.
London police have scheduled a news conference for Monday to address the situation. A spokesperson for police told the AP by email no updates on the investigation will be provided before the news conference.
London police launched their investigation in 2022 after it was disclosed that Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight members of that gold medal-winning team after a Hockey Canada Foundation fundraising gala. London is approximately halfway between Toronto and Detroit.
According to court documents, the woman, then 20, alleged that a man, identified only as B次元官网网址淛ohn Doe #1,B次元官网网址� took her from a bar to a hotel room and invited seven other people into the room to perform undisclosed sexual acts, intimidating her and preventing her from leaving. The woman said in the lawsuit the men directed her to take a shower and asked her to say on video that she was sober.
The woman sought $3.55 million in damages and dropped the lawsuit after reaching a settlement with Hockey Canada.
The NHL opened its own investigation in 2022 and has pledged to make those findings public. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly last week said the league would issue a statement if and when it is appropriate.
The Flyers said Hart requested and was granted a leave of absence for personal reasons. General manager Daniel Briere declined to provide details when asked follow-up questions related to the 25-year-old No. 1 goaltenderB次元官网网址檚 departure.
The Devils did not give a reason when announcing McLeod and Foote were granted indefinite leaves of absence. McLeod, who turns 26 on Saturday, is in the middle of his fourth full season with the team, while Foote B次元官网网址� son of former NHL player Adam Foote B次元官网网址� has spent much of this season in the American Hockey League and appeared in four games for New Jersey.
The Flames said Dube was on indefinite leave to tend to his mental health. As part of their statement Tuesday, they said they B次元官网网址渉ad no knowledge of pending charges at the time DillonB次元官网网址檚 request for a leave of absence was granted.B次元官网网址�
The 25-year-old Dube has played for Calgary since 2018.
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