NHL commissioner Gary Bateman He said Friday he used “abhorrent, reprehensible, appalling and unacceptable” words to describe sexual assault allegations against five members of Canada's 2018 world junior championship team “and those words still apply.”
The Philadelphia Flyers' Carter Hart, the New Jersey Devils' Michael McLeod and Cal Foote, the Calgary Flames' Dillon Dube and former NHL player Alex Formenton have been accused of sexual assault, their lawyers said. He told the Associated Press. The alleged incident occurred in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada ceremony in London, Ontario, honoring the country's gold-medal-winning team.
Police plan to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. ET on Monday.
Police and Hockey Canada reopened investigations after Canadian broadcaster TSN reported in May 2022 that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed $3.55 million settlement to a woman it alleged in a lawsuit it was. He was sexually assaulted by eight players In a hotel room.
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The NHL launched its own outside investigation as well, interviewing all players on the 2018 team but not being given permission to interview the woman, Bettman said.
The league was discussing the results of its 12-month investigation with the NHL Players Association when news broke about the pending charges in Ontario.
“If charges are pending, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter,” Pittman said.
He added: “All of the NHL players who appear to be subject to indictment are no longer with their teams, and therefore at this point, the most responsible and prudent thing for us is to wait out the judicial proceedings, for the time being.” “At that point, we will respond as appropriate at that time.”
The five players were placed on indefinite leave from their teams. The four accused NHL players are in the final years of their contracts.
“I would be surprised if they were playing while this was pending,” Pittman said.
He said the alleged incident is not an indication of a systemic problem in hockey.
He added: “These allegations do not represent what is happening in our game, and we are committed to setting the right example and collaborating with hockey organizations at all levels, especially youth level, to ensure the message of appropriate behavior.” “It's delivered,” he said. “We want people to know that our games are inclusive, welcoming and safe.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hockey Canada scandal and allegations addressed by NHL's Gary Bettman
