Slowly but surely, the players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team are speaking up, distancing themselves from an alleged sex assault after a team reunion that has shaken Hockey Canada to its core.
Arizona Coyotes defenceman Conor Timmins was the latest to step forward, with management group Quartexx on his behalf: “I am aware of the allegations made against some of the members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Hockey team at the London, Ontario gala event in June of 2018. I was not involved in any way in the incident that gave rise to the allegations that have been reported. No one alleges that I was present or involved and I have no personal knowledge of what occurred.”
Timmins — who also pledged to “continue to co-operate” with investigations — is the 14th player from the team of 22 to step forward with a statement either directly or through a representative. Some have proclaimed innocence. Most have promised co-operation. Some simply reminded fans they weren’t at the event.
Hockey Canada recently announced it would be reopening an investigation into the alleged incident involving eight unidentified players, including members of that 2018 team. The NHL also promises to reveal the results of its own investigation when it is complete.
Hockey Canada has been roundly trounced in the court of public opinion for an incomplete initial investigation that led to settling a lawsuit in which the plaintiff had asked for $3.55 million. The federal government suspended funding to the hockey body, and sponsors dropped away one by one: Scotiabank, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, Telus, Imperial Oil.
The plaintiff, who has chosen not to be identified, has said she’ll co-operate with the reopened investigation.
The Star reached out to the agent or lawyer of every player from that 2018 squad, asking if they welcomed the chance to clear the air and perhaps their reputation. The agent representing Flames centre Dillon Dubé and a lawyer for Canadiens defenceman Kale Clague, Blue Jackets winger Jake Bean and Flyers goalie Carter Hart were the first to respond, via email.
“Dillon did not engage in any wrongdoing, and he co-operated fully with the independent London Police Service investigation in 2018, through which all players were then cleared of any wrongdoing,” wrote Dubé’s agent, Dave Cowan.
From lawyer Scott K. Fenton, speaking for Clague, Bean and Hart: “None of the players you reference engaged in any wrongdoing, all of the players co-operated fully with the independent London Police Service investigation in 2018, and all players were then cleared of any wrongdoing.”
A separate query got a similar response from Fenton. That one included free-agent goalie Colton Point, Jordan Kyrou of the Blues and Taylor Raddysh of the Blackhawks, who like Clague, Bean and Hart are represented by the Wasserman Group.
Clague, Kyrou and defenceman Victor Meté, who just signed with the Maple Leafs, weren’t at the Hockey Canada event on June 18, 2018.
“I believe it is important for me to state that I was not present at the gala event celebration when this appalling event occurred,” Meté tweeted.
Both Fenton and Cowan added similarly worded statements in their comments to the Star with regards to the players they represented.
“Naming any of these players now, or attempting to associate any of them in any way with alleged criminal wrongdoing, or alleging that they were not co-operative with the London Police or willing to co-operate with Hockey Canada, will constitute materially false statements constituting defamation causing serious financial and reputational harm,” Fenton wrote.
The most prominent member of the 2018 team, Stanley Cup champion defenceman Cale Makar of the Avalanche, was one of the first to speak up on the eve of the Cup final.
“I don’t know how much I’m able to talk about it, because I think it’s an ongoing investigation, but I did receive an email and obviously I’ll be very co-operative in the investigation,” Makar said then. “I wasn’t a part of that or anything. So whatever they need from me, I’ll be very co-operative.”
Makar, Point and Predators defenceman Dante Fabbro came from the U.S. college ranks. The lawsuit states the eight “John Does” were from the Canadian Hockey League, comprising the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League.
Fabbro’s agent, J.P. Barry, added in a statement to Global News that the player “was asleep in his own room in a different part of the hotel that evening and was not involved.”
Jason Harshaw of Driven Sports Group, agent for Sharks winger Jonah Gadjovich, issued a statement to San Jose Hockey Now: “The events described in the story are serious and reprehensible. Jonah was not involved in the incident and does not have any comment on legal proceedings and the settlement involving other parties.”
Kurt Overhardt, who represents Cal Foote of the Lightning, that the defenceman was no way involved in the story, while Mike Liut, the Octagon Hockey agent representing Blackhawks forward Boris Katchouk, told GlobalNews: “Boris has fully co-operated with the Hockey Canada investigation and will continue to provide that co-operation in any further investigation. Beyond this statement we are not commenting further.”
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