Since 2022, the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) has been entrenched in a sexual assault scandal involving 5 Canadian hockey gamers: Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Michael McCleod. The scandal stems from a June 2018 incident involving the 5 Canadian World Junior Workforce teammates in London, Ontario. The incident was investigated however concluded with out expenses earlier than the case was re-opened in 2022. Every participant has formally been charged, leaving their groups in limbo as they await additional authorized motion. Let’s have a look at how the case impacts Dube and the Calgary Flames, in addition to what followers can anticipate transferring ahead.
Reviewing the 2018 Incident
Whereas expenses weren’t filed till lately, this initially stems from an incident in 2018. Dube and his 4 Canadian World Junior Workforce teammates celebrated their win after a gold-medal efficiency. The 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships occurred between December 26, 2017 and January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Canada simply received their group, profitable three of their 4 video games, with their solely loss coming in additional time. They logged 10 whole factors and a +15 objective differential, profitable the group over the USA (regardless of shedding to the USA because of their loss to Slovakia).
Within the playoff rounds, Canada dominated, defeating Switzerland 8–2 within the quarterfinals and beating the Czech Republic 7–2 within the semifinals. They caught a break when Sweden defeated the People within the semifinals. Contemplating Canada had misplaced to the USA beforehand, hockey betting would have probably favored the USA. In the end, Canada beat Sweden 3–1 within the gold medal recreation, whereas the USA needed to accept Bronze, throttling the Czech Republic 9–3. The win gave Canada their seventeenth gold medal, essentially the most in historical past, with that depend now sitting at 20.
The staff celebrated the win with out concern. Nevertheless, the staff can be collectively once more in June when the incident occurred. After attending the Hockey Canada Basis Gala & Golf occasion on June 18, 2018, an unnamed girl alleged that Dube, Hart, Foote, Formenton, and McLeod sexually assaulted her in a lodge room. As much as eight individuals have been believed to be concerned, however the police solely had affordable grounds towards these 5.
Police Dismiss The Investigation
Following the incident, an investigation was rapidly carried out. Every participant denied any involvement. Hockey Canada said that the group cooperated totally with the police on the time, and investigators mentioned in a 94-page doc launched in December of 2022 that they’d affordable grounds to consider the 5 teammates dedicated the assault. Nevertheless, on the time of the investigation, no expenses have been filed, and the case was formally closed in 2019.
2022: The Case Is Reopened
The case was reopened in 2022 after his investigators found new proof. Chief Thai Truong mentioned his staff had “inadequate grounds” to deliver expenses in 2019, however current proof helped them file expenses. London Police charged every participant with one depend of sexual assault, in addition to charging McLeod with one cost as a celebration to the offense. He didn’t increase on what sort of new proof they’d. Former Senators ahead Formenton is the one participant that has reported to London Police to this point, however different gamers have taken motion.
Every participant, together with Dube, has been granted an indefinite depart of absence whereas denying all wrongdoing. Dube particularly took a depart of absence for “psychological well being” causes. A former second-round choose within the 2016 NHL draft, Dube is in his sixth season with the Calgary Flames and had performed in 43 of the staff’s 46 video games earlier than his announcement.
What the Go away of Absence Means for Dube and the Flames
Sadly for the Flames, the scandal has distracted the staff. In the end, severe allegations like these Dube is going through are extra essential than any motion on the ice. With that information, Calgary has carried out its finest to provide Dube the presumption of innocence that comes with an investigation of this nature whereas persevering with to compete.
Calgary remains to be very a lot within the playoff hunt. Regardless of the distractions, they path Edmonton by six factors and are at the moment on a three-game profitable streak. They’ve +310 odds of constructing the playoffs, which is surprisingly constructive contemplating what they’ve gone by way of. Dropping Dube hurts their rotational depth, however he hasn’t performed notably nicely this season. He had simply seven factors in 43 video games, a 13-point tempo throughout 82 video games. In 82 video games final season, Dube scored 45 factors. Earlier than his absence, Dube had logged a -13 +/-, greater than doubling the worst mark of his profession set final season. He averaged simply 11:09 minutes on the ice per recreation, the bottom mark of his profession since his rookie season.
How Does Calgary Transfer Ahead?
With the season simply over midway carried out, the Flames have loads of video games to sneak into the playoffs. Nevertheless, no staff has been as streaky as Calgary. Actually, throughout their final 25 video games, they haven’t had a single W-L-W or L-W-L stretch. Throughout that point, they’ve 4 profitable streaks of not less than three video games and two shedding streaks of not less than 4 video games. To make the postseason, the squad has to discover a method to put the Dube distraction apart and transfer ahead.
