Michael McLeod and Cal Foote have been granted indefinite leaves of absence from the Devils, the team said in a statement, adding that there would be no further comment at this time.
McLeod and Foote were both members of the Canadian World Juniors team in 2018 that has five members facing allegations of sexual assault, according to The Globe And Mail.
It was reported on Wednesday that five players have been told to surrender to police in Canada due to the allegations.
In addition to McLeod and Foote, three other players who were members of the 2018 Canadian World Juniors team have also been granted leaves of absence -- Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Alex Formenton, who is currently playing for the Swiss league team HC Ambri Piotta.
https://sny.tv/artic...-absence-devils
September, 2022:
Dillon Dubé
"All of CBC News' questions will be asked and answered during the pending NHL investigation. 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.
"Naming Dillon or attempting to associate him in any way with alleged criminal wrongdoing, or alleging that he was not co-operative with the London police or was unwilling to co-operate with Hockey Canada, will constitute materially false statements constituting defamation causing serious financial and reputational harm," David Cowan, agent for Dubé wrote to CBC.
In a Sept. 23 media appearance, Dubé told a Sportsnet columnist that "I've co-operated in any way possible and will continue co-operating. I've done everything I can to co-operate."
"I will continue to do that. With it going on, I wish I could share more, but that's kind of all I can share up to this point," Dubé said.
He added to his statement the next day:
"With (the investigation) going on, I wish I could share more. But that's all I can share to this point. I would love to be transparent. I know that's all I can really say on it to be honest. For me, I wish I could tell."
Cal Foote
Foote's agent Kurt Overhardt told Global News his client was not involved in the alleged sexual assault.
Alex Formenton
No statement as of Sept. 27.
Michael McLeod
"I am aware of the situation in 2018 and the investigation and I've been co-operative through the entire investigation and process, but since it's still ongoing, I'm unable to comment any further," McLeod told NJ.com.
Jake Bean, Carter Hart, Colton Point, Kale Clague, Jordan Kyrou, Taylor Raddysh
Toronto lawyer Scott Fenton wrote to Global News at the time that his firm represents one of these players and that he consulted with counsel for the other players. He declined to identify that player. He told Global:
"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.
"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 to Global News.
https://www.cbc.ca/n...-2018-1.6597503
Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2024 - 08:52 PM.