Lawyers: 4 NHLers charged with sexual assault
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Emily Kaplan, ESPN
Four NHL players were charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario, on Tuesday, their respective legal teams confirmed to ESPN.
Lawyers for Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube, and New Jersey Devils center Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, all members of Canada’s 2018 world junior championships team, addressed the situation later Tuesday. All four players had previously been granted leaves of absence from their NHL teams.
Speaking for Hart, Megan Savard and Riaz Sayani, from Savard Foy LLP in Toronto, emailed ESPN to “confirm he has been charged with one count of sexual assault. He is innocent and will provide a full response to this false allegation in the proper forum, a court of law.”
In another correspondence with ESPN, McLeod’s lawyers — David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein of Greenspan Humphrey Weinstein LLP in Toronto — added that “McLeod denies any criminal wrongdoing. He will be pleading not guilty and will vigorously defend the case. None of the evidence has been presented, let alone tested in court.”
Julianna Greenspan of Greenspan Partners LLP in Toronto, the representation for Foote, emailed ESPN saying “Cal is innocent of the charge and will defend himself against this allegation to clear his name. What 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.”
And finally, in a Tuesday night statement to ESPN, Louis P. Strezos and Kaleigh Davidson, Dube’s representation, said “he will plead not guilty and maintains his innocence. He will defend the allegations in court.”
Former NHL player Alex Formenton, who was playing professionally in Switzerland, turned himself in to London Police on Sunday. Formenton’s lawyer declined to state the exact charges his client was facing but said in a statement: “Alex will vigorously defend his innocence and asks that people not rush to judgment without hearing all of the evidence.”
London Police has scheduled a news conference for Monday.
The police department launched an investigation in 2022 after TSN reported that Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight members of that team after a gala celebrating their gold-medal win at the 2018 world junior championships.
The Globe and Mail first reported on the pending charges last week, which prompted the players to step away from their teams. The four NHL players have been on paid leave, according to sources. However, league sources said the players’ statuses with their respective teams will likely change if charges are pressed; they could face suspension, by their teams or by the NHL, see their contracts terminated, or end up on a commissioner’s exempt list. The players are all 25 years old.
The Flames, in a statement Tuesday night, said they didn’t know about the pending sexual assault charge against Dube when they granted his request for a leave of absence on Jan. 21. The club previously said Dube was tending to his mental health.
Sources told ESPN that some of the players were directed by their lawyers not to tell their NHL teams any details about the potential charges.
Flyers general manager Danny Briere told reporters last week that he wasn’t sure what was going to happen with Hart.
“We are aware of this morning’s press reports on a very serious matter. We will respond appropriately when the outcomes of the investigations are made public,” Briere said. “The NHL has been very clear that teams should refer all investigation-related questions to them. In the meantime, members of the organization, including Flyers players, will not be commenting any further.”
The NHL completed its own investigation of the incident but has not made the results public. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Tuesday that the league would not be commenting at this time.
Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.
“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”
Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.
The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.
Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.
“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.
McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.
“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”
McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.
“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.
McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.
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