Here is what we know about the case:
Sports
What to expect when hockey players accused of gang rape face a judge on Monday
The scandal erupted in spring 2022, when Hockey Canada settled a $3.5-million lawsuit filed by a young woman, identified as E.M.
The scandal erupted in spring 2022, when Hockey Canada settled a $3.5-million lawsuit filed by a young woman, identified as E.M., who alleged she was sexually assaulted on June 18, 2018 in London’s Delta Armouries hotel by eight elite teenage hockey players, including members of Canada’s gold-winning 2018 world junior team. The squad had reunited in London for a Hockey Canada fundraiser.
THE ACCUSED
Their identities were shrouded for years and only became public last week when their lawyers acknowledged they had been charged with sexual assault. All five deny any wrongdoing.
ALEX FORMENTON: A former star with the London Knights, Formenton was playing in Switzerland before taking a leave to face the charges. A 24-year-old native of Barrie, Ont., Formenton scored 18 goals in 2021-22 for the Ottawa Senators but did not sign a new contract, an unusual situation, and left the NHL.
MICHAEL McLEOD: He was in the fifth season of a career with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils when he took a leave last week ahead of the charges. The Mississauga, Ont., native, who turned 26 Saturday, has played 287 NHL games and his one-year contract that pays him US$1.4 million expires this summer.
CAL FOOTE: The son of a hockey hall of famer, the 25-year-old Foote has been a fringe NHLer and spent the bulk of this season in the minors before taking a leave. He has played 145 NHL games and is on a one-year contract that pays him between US$350,000 and US$800,000. The deal expires this summer.
DILLON DUBE: The Calgary Flames said they had no knowledge criminal charges were looming when they granted a leave last week to the 25-year-old native of Golden, B.C. After two 18-goal seasons, Dube was on pace to score six this year while playing out the final season of a three-year contract worth US$2.3 million annually.
CARTER HART: The Sherwood Park, Alta., native was the star goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers before taking a leave. He’s in the final season of a three-year contract that pays him US$3.9 million annually.
Lawyers for all five players have publicly declared their innocence, with at least one calling it a “false allegation.”
THE ALLEGATION
It was at a bar in London, the woman claimed in her lawsuit, that she met one of the junior hockey players and returned to his hotel room, where they had consensual sex. Afterward, the woman claimed, “seven or eight” of the hockey players’ friends arrived in the room and sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit doesn’t name the woman or the players.
By the time of the alleged assault, in June 2018, all five players had been drafted by their respective NHL teams. One, Formenton, had already made his NHL debut. McLeod, Hart and Dubé all played in the NHL in the 2018-19 season. Foote began his professional career with Syracuse of the American Hockey League, one level below the NHL, in 2018 and made his NHL debut in January 2021.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The criminal case is in its early stages and all five men will appear in court with their lawyers on Monday morning.
London police are holding a press conference Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. So broad is the public interest, police are holding it at RBC Place, London’s convention centre.
THE NHL’s POSITION
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league will not consider any punishment against five accused players until the conclusion of court proceedings.
“At this stage, the most responsible and prudent thing for us to do is await the conclusion of the judicial proceedings, at which point we will respond as appropriate at the time,” Bettman said Friday ahead of the NHL all-star skills competition.
“I have repeatedly used the words ’abhorrent, reprehensible, horrific and unacceptable’ to describe the alleged behaviors. And those words continue to apply.”
He said the league conducted its own investigation but did not speak to the woman at the centre of the allegations.
“There’s no fault there. She was absolutely within her rights not to talk to us, and we respect that,” said Bettman.
With files from Patrick Maloney of London Free Press, The Canadian Press and The Washington Post
Sports
French league’s legal board orders PSG to pay Kylian Mbappé 55 million euros of unpaid wages
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
PSG officials and Mbappé’s representatives met in Paris on Wednesday after Mbappé asked the commission to get involved. Mbappé joined Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer.
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News
Reggie Bush was at his LA-area home when 3 male suspects attempted to break in
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
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Sports
B.C. Lions lean on versatile offence to continue win streak against Toronto Argonauts
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
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