Alleged Incident in 2018
Four members of a gold medal-winning team are facing charges in a sexual assault case that allegedly took place in 2018. Another individual, a former player, is also under investigation.
NHL Commissioner Allows Judicial Process
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that the league will wait for the judicial process to unfold before making any decisions about the four active players. However, reports indicate that the league has already informed the teams of the players involved that they will receive cap relief during their absence.
Cap Relief for Absent Players
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has confirmed that the teams will receive cap relief while the players are absent. This news comes as a relief for the teams, as it will alleviate the financial burden caused by their absence.
Players on Indefinite Leave
Two of the players, Hart and Dube, have been granted indefinite leaves of absence. Hart, in the final year of his contract, had a cap hit of $3.9 million this season. Dube, also in the final year of his contract, had a cap hit of $2.3 million.
London Police Press Conference
London police held a press conference on Monday to discuss the charges. Police Chief Thai Truong explained that the initial investigation took place from June 2018 to February 2019 but was closed due to insufficient evidence. However, new information emerged in July 2022, leading to a reevaluation of the case.
New Information Leads to Charges
Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann stated that law enforcement received a call from someone related to the victim, seeking advice regarding a sexual assault. This call prompted a reinvestigation, which uncovered new information leading to the charges.
Denial of Wrongdoing
Lawyers for all five defendants have denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their clients. The case will now proceed through the judicial system, where the truth will be determined.
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