NHL Players Face Sentencing Decision in Sexual Assault Case
A judge is set to deliver a verdict in the sexual assault case involving several former NHL players, following the dismissal of a jury due to concerns about the defense’s conduct. The ruling by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia will determine the fate of the accused, who have been linked to the league through their playing careers.
The players involved include Carter Hart, formerly the philadelphia Flyers’ starting goaltender, and Ryan McLeod and Nolan Dube, who were regular fixtures on their respective teams. Defenseman cal Foote, son of NHL veteran Adam Foote, spent most of the past season in the American Hockey League. Additionally, Liam Formenton, who played 109 games for the Ottawa Senators between 2017 and 2022 before moving to Europe, is part of the proceedings.
Justice Carroccia discharged the jury in May after defense attorneys were accused of laughing at jurors.While the judge stated she hadn’t observed any behaviour that raised her concern, she ultimately decided that the jury’s negative perception of the defense could compromise their impartiality, a situation that could not be rectified.
The potential consequences for the players vary significantly. In Canada,convictions for sexual assault can result in sentences ranging from no mandatory minimum to a decade in prison. It remains unclear whether the players would be permitted to return to the NHL if acquitted. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has indicated the league will await the outcome of the legal proceedings before taking any action.
Bettman possesses considerable authority to address off-ice conduct detrimental to the league. For instance, in 2019, the NHL suspended Los Angeles Kings defenseman slava Voynov for an entire season and subsequent playoffs after finding he committed acts of domestic violence.More recently, Shane Pinto received a 41-game suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Players have recourse through an appeals process involving the NHL Players’ association and an arbitrator jointly appointed by the league and the union for dispute resolution.
In related news, Hockey Canada has experienced a important loss of sponsorships, including from Nike, and its CEO and board resigned in 2022 amidst this and other scandals.