Michael McLeod (l.) is one of the accused NHL players. © APA / BRUCE BENNETT

NHL scandal: Players plead innocent

The alleged perpetrators will plead not guilty in the scandal surrounding rape allegations against four NHL professionals and another former player on the Canadian junior national team.

31 January 2024

From: dpa

According to consistent media reports, these are Carter Hart (Philadelphia Flyers), Michael McLeod and Cal Foote (both New Jersey Devils) and Dillon Dubé (Calgary Flames) from the NHL as well as Alex Formenton, who until recently played in Switzerland.

You are accused of having sex with a woman against her will after winning the gold medal at the 2018 Junior World Championships. Formenton has already turned himself in to the police in his home country and, like the NHL professionals around Philadelphia goalie Hart who are also accused, denies the allegations. Lawyers for the alleged perpetrators spoke out on Wednesday with corresponding statements.

The players, each 25 years old, have been on leave from their teams since the scandal became known last week. The reports caused a great stir in Canada because the national association had swept the woman's complaint under the carpet with a million-dollar payment.