Despite not guilty verdict, NHL bars players from return
Despite a judge finding all five defendants in the Hockey Canada trial “not guilty” on all charges, the National Hockey League has decided that it will take matters into its own hands.
Despite a judge finding all five defendants in the Hockey Canada trial “not guilty” on all charges, the National Hockey League has decided that it will take matters into its own hands and will begin its own investigation before allowing them to re-enter the league.
“The accused are free to go.”
Those were some of the last words from Justice Maria Carroccia on Thursday after she declared all five defendants in the Hockey Canada trial “not guilty” on all charges.
But the NHL isn’t following suit.
“The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable,” said the NHL in a Friday statement.
“We will be reviewing and considering the judge’s findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the League,” the NHL’s statement continued.
The statement from the NHL is likely in response to the backlash and reaction from fans, pundits, and broadcasters over the judge’s decision.
“Beyond disgusted at today’s news,” wrote Hadi Kalakache—a “lead QMJHL scout”—on X, for example.
That single post received more than 100,000 views in less than 24 hours.
“If you’re making jokes, calling E.M. a liar, or are excited at the thought of your team signing one of these guys, you’re part of why more than 90 per cent of these incidents go unreported,” Kalakache continued.
Whatever the reason for the NHL’s statement, six acquittals and seven years removed from five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team being accused of sexual assault, any door back to the NHL remains closed, at least for the foreseeable future
I for one would love to hear the names of the girls that brought the complaints. This has destroyed their NHL ‘s careers..
The NHL is going to go the same route as Bud Light, and I could care less. As for Hadi Kalakache, it's good to know he has the patent on the moral high ground and is such a beautiful, virtuous human being. I still am confused though, why the most virtuous people are always the most hateful...perhaps someday.
I personally doubt this young lady was interested in these activities, and it's quite possible she went along out of fear (though, I don't believe any evidence was presented that they actually and wilfully intimidated her), and it's reasonable to wonder what these young men were thinking, but we must also consider the evidence we don't like. We don't get to pick and choose the evidence we accept. There is also not insignificant evidence she went along willingly (though I personally have my doubts), and it is reasonable to assume these young men, a little over excited, stopped thinking with the head on their shoulders. I can't really blame hockey players for filming her apparent consent; there are a lot of gold diggers after their money - perhaps a testament to the times we live in.
Those blaming them are, in all likelihood, the same people who destroyed the families that would have allowed fathers to give these young men better life advice. Kalakache should remove the log in his own eye before trying to pick out the sliver in theirs.
This was probably one terrible misunderstanding, and they may have acted poorly, but they are not guilty. This trial by public commentary is getting out of hand.