Dillon Dube, who is facing sexual assault charges in 2018, was previously absent from the Flames on January 21st, but the team said it was due to mental health reasons.
Now, after reports emerged on Tuesday that Dube was one of four NHLers facing assault charges in Ontario, Canada, Calgary said it was not aware the forward was involved in the incident. Stated.
“We have now become aware of sexual assault allegations against Dillon Dube,” the team said in a statement Tuesday. “We take this matter very seriously. As this matter is currently in legal proceedings, we will not be commenting further at this time.
“At the time Mr. Dillon’s request for leave was granted, we had no knowledge of the pending charges.
Dube, along with Devils forwards Michael McLeod and Cal Foote and Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, were all charged Tuesday with sexual assault stemming from an incident at a 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation event. According to The Athletic.
Former NHLer Alex Formenton was also charged in the incident.
Through his lawyer, Dube denied any involvement in the alleged incident and said he intended to plead not guilty in the case.
“The London Police Department has charged Mr. Dube with sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty and will plead not guilty,” said attorneys Louis Strezos and Kayleigh Davidson. said in a statement on Tuesday.. “He intends to defend the charges in court. We ask that you respect the privacy of Mr. Dube and his family.”
When the 25-year-old Dube left the team last week, the Flames said in a statement that he was caring for his mental health.
“Dillon Dube has been placed on indefinite leave of absence from the team to attend to his mental health. Dillon is under the care of medical professionals and we ask that Dillon’s privacy be respected during this time.” To do.”
Dube is one of five players on Canada’s 2018 World Junior Championship gold medal-winning team charged in connection with the alleged incident at a luxury hotel in London, Ont.
The woman, identified as EM in court documents related to the civil case, met a man at a downtown London bar, broke up with him, and had consensual sex at a hotel before the man brought another player into his room. He claims that he invited her to have sex with him. have sex with her without her consent; According to the London Free Press.
London police initially closed the investigation into the alleged incident in 2019, but reopened it after a civil lawsuit was filed against Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and eight unnamed players.
London police reopened the case about a year and a half ago and believe there are reasonable grounds to believe that five members of the World Junior team sexually assaulted a woman at the Delta London Armory as of December 2022. was.
Authorities are scheduled to hold a press conference on February 5th to provide an update on the case.
