Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod, and defenseman Cal Foote in connection with the 2018 London incident. (Four members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey Team) have been charged with sexual assault. Ontario, each player’s lawyer confirmed. The Athletic.
Each attorney issued separate statements Tuesday.
An emailed statement from David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein said: “More than five and a half years after EM first filed a police complaint, London police have charged Mike McLeod with sexual assault. I can confirm that you have done so.”
The statement said McLeod denies any wrongdoing and “maintains his innocence and will vigorously defend himself.”
The statement continued: “No evidence has been presented let alone tested in court. We ask the public to respect the privacy of Mr. McLeod and his family. This matter is currently before the courts. As such, we will refrain from making any further comment at this time.”
Late Tuesday, an attorney representing Dube issued a similar statement.
“London police have charged Mr. Dubé with sexual assault. He pleads not guilty and will maintain his innocence,” Louis Strezos’ statement read. “He intends to defend the charges in court. We ask that you respect the privacy of Mr. Dube and his family.”
A statement on behalf of Hart from his attorneys Megan Savard and Riaz Sarani said: “We represent Carter Hart and confirm that he has been charged with one count of sexual assault. He is innocent and intends to fully respond to these false allegations in the appropriate forum. Until then, we will have no comment.”
Foote’s attorney, Julianna Greenspan, said in a statement Tuesday night: “Cal is innocent of the charges and intends to defend against these allegations in order to clear his name.” What is most important at this time is the presumption of innocence and the fair trial that everyone in Canada is entitled to. It is a right to receive. As this matter is before the courts, we ask that the privacy of Cal and his family be respected. There are no further comments at this time. ”
McLeod, Dube, Hart and Foote are the second and third people publicly identified in the case after Alex Formenton’s lawyer confirmed the former Ottawa Senators player had been charged by London police on Sunday. They will be the fourth and fifth players to do so. The Globe and Mail reported that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team were told to surrender to police last week on suspicion of sexual assault.
On Sunday, London police said: The Athletic He said he would “provide all the latest information” on the incident at a press conference scheduled for Feb. 5.
The Globe and Mail reports that the pending charges relate to the alleged sexual assault of a woman by multiple players in a London hotel room on June 19, 2018, after a Hockey Canada Foundation event. It was reported that
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The allegations were revealed in a lawsuit filed by a woman against Hockey Canada in April 2022. In a complaint filed in Ontario Superior Court, the woman claims she was assaulted by eight players in a hotel room after a foundation event. Members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team were among those accused of assault in the case.
Hockey Canada and the women settled the lawsuit in May 2022.
After the lawsuit was made public, London police and Hockey Canada reopened their investigations into the incident, as did the NHL. The initial investigation by London police concluded in February 2019 without any charges being laid.
When asked for comment, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league would not be issuing a statement “at this time.” The NHLPA also declined to comment.
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Hart, 25, played in 26 games for the Flyers this season. On January 24, Hart requested and was granted an indefinite leave of absence from the Flyers for personal reasons.
Dube, 25, appeared in 43 games for the Flames this season. On January 21st, the Flames released the following statement: “Dillon Dube has been placed on indefinite leave by the team to care for his mental health. Dillon is under the care of medical professionals and we ask that Dillon’s privacy be respected during this time. ”
On Tuesday, the Flames issued a separate statement saying they were “now made aware” of the allegations against Dube and that the organization was “not aware of the pending charges at the time Dillon’s request for leave was granted.”
McLeod, 25, played in 45 games for the Devils this season. Foote, also 25, split his playing time between the New Jersey Devils and Utica’s AHL farm team this season. He appeared in 24 games with Utica and four games with New Jersey. Last week, the Devils released a statement saying both McLeod and Foote had requested and been granted indefinite leave from the team.The Devils declined further comment. The Athletic on Tuesday night.
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