New Jersey Devils ahead Michael McLeod has been charged with sexual attack in connection to allegations involving individuals of Canada’s 2018 International Juniors hockey workforce, his attorneys showed Tuesday.
The attorneys, David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein, stated in a remark to World Information that McLeod has been charged via police in London, Ont.
“Mr. McLeod denies any felony wrongdoing,” the attorneys stated. “He’s going to be pleading now not responsible and can vigorously protect the case.”
The Devils showed previous this month that McLeod have been granted an indefinite go away of absence from the workforce. He prior to now used to be a member of the 2018 International Juniors workforce for Canada.
A number of gamers who had been individuals of the 2018 workforce have additionally taken indefinite leaves of absence from their golf equipment over fresh weeks, consistent with statements from their groups posted at the social media platform X and in public feedback. Along with McLeod, the ones gamers additionally come with Devils teammate Cal Foote, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames and Alex Formenton, who performs in Switzerland.
The Globe and Mail reported ultimate week that 5 individuals of that 2018 International Juniors hockey workforce have been advised to give up to police to stand fees for an alleged crew sexual attack in London, Ont.
The media file launched Wednesday cited two assets with wisdom of the investigation who weren’t named as a result of they weren’t approved to talk at the case.
The gamers had been given a suite time period to offer themselves at London police headquarters, the Globe reported. World Information has now not independently showed the Globe reporting.
On Sunday, Formenton became himself into London police headquarters. Formenton’s attorneys advised the Globe and Mail that he used to be charged in connection to “an accusation made in 2018,” and would plead now not responsible.
London police are anticipated to carry a press convention at the case on Monday, Feb. 5.
There’s no affirmation that the opposite leaves of absence are associated with the Globe file.
The fees stem from an alleged crew sexual attack in London, Ont., in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada gala match.
Information of the development first broke in Might 2022 after TSN reported Hockey Canada had settled a civil lawsuit with the complainant. That file induced a chain of occasions, which incorporated renewed investigations, in addition to intense scrutiny serious about Hockey Canada that at last led all of the board and management workforce to surrender.
Foote’s agent prior to now advised World Information in 2022 his consumer used to be now not concerned within the alleged sexual attack. A legal professional for Hart on the time stated his consumer had now not “engaged in any wrongdoing.” Dube’s agent stated on the time his consumer “didn’t interact in any wrongdoing.” Makes an attempt to touch representatives for McLeod and Formenton on the time went unanswered.
Court docket paperwork first reported via the Globe and Mail ultimate December and showed via World Information printed London police stated they’ve “affordable grounds” to imagine 5 individuals of the 2018 workforce had been occupied with a bunch sexual attack.
—With recordsdata from World’s Naomi Barghiel, Aaron D’Andrea and Nathaniel Dove
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