Penguins' Low-Risk Move Could Pay Off Big Time
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Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hockey Canada trial: Judge acquits five hockey players accused of sexual assault, citing inconsistencies
This story contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault. The five hockey players who were accused of sexual assault have been found no guilty, as the months-long Hockey Canada trial came to a close on Thursday. Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart, who faced charges of sexual assault, were acquitted by a judge in London, Ontario. The charges dated back to an incident that took place in 2018, when the five players were in London for a gala and golf tournament in honor of their championship win as part of Canada's world junior hockey team. A woman, known as E.M. in the trial, has alleged that the players sexually assaulted her over several hours in a hotel room after the event. McLeod was also facing a second charge for being "party to the offense," pleading not guilty to that charge as well. McLeod was acquitted of that charge as well. Judge Maria Carroccia opened Thursday's verdict by saying that she did not find E.M.'s testimony to be "credible or reliable," later noting that her story had inconsistencies. Importantly, the judge felt that prosecutors did not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, giving her the need to lean towards acquittal. "Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence of E.M. and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me," the judge said earlier in the ruling, via multiple outlets. Carroccia's primary issue was whether the sexual contact was not consensual, which is what makes the incident sexual assault. Carroccia cited videos filmed by McLeod where E.M. said that what was going on was "all consensual"; additionally, E.M. had consensual sex with at least one of the players earlier in the night, complicating her story. In that manner, the judge said that prosecutors did not successfully prove that E.M did not consent. "In this case, I have found actual consent not vitiated by fear," Judge Carroccia said during the ruling. The trial, which took place seven years after the original incident, has taken a long and meandering path to Thursday's verdict. E.M. initially reported the incident to London police in 2018, but initial investigation was closed in 2019 due to a lack of evidence. The case was re-opened after E.M. reached an undisclosed settlement with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League in 2022. That lawsuit had alleged that eight players, who were unnamed at the time, had been involved. Charges were not filed until 2024, when the names of the five players who were charged were finally revealed. Other players were involved but did not face charges, having allegedly left the hotel room before the assault took place; those players were called to the stand to testify on the night in question. Additionally, Judge Carroccia's ruling was given six weeks after the trial's arguments concluded. Four of the players — McLeod, Hart, Dubé and Foote — were playing in the NHL at the time that charges were filed, while Formenton was playing in a Swiss league. All of them went on indefinite leave and are not currently under contract with a team. The five players have also been barred from playing for the Canadian national team after the Hockey Canada opened an investigation, though it is probable that the acquittal will have an effect on that investigation.
USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
New Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey already taking reps at safety at training camp
New #Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey is working with the safeties with the DB groups split on day one. Thursday was the first practice of Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp. The Steelers have a ton of new faces this camp, more so than any other time during head coach Mike Tomlin's tenure with the Steelers. One of those new faces is cornerback Jalen Ramsey. One of the reasons Pittsburgh acquired the All-Pro is the level of position versatility he offers and it only took one practice for the Steelers to put that to the test. Ramsey started the practice with the cornerbacks, as you can see from the video below, where Ramsey was also working drills with the safety group. Tomlin said in his training camp press conference that he plans to have Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Joey Porter Jr. on the field all the time, regardless of personnel grouping. It would stand to reason that someone is going to be a de facto safety, and among the three, Ramsey is best suited for the position. The need for a new safety stems from the trade that brought Ramsey. Pittsburgh traded All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dylan Strome Rooting For Tom Wilson To Make Team Canada For 2026 Olympics: 'There's No Question, There's No One Like Him'
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome has been happy to be on the same side as Tom Wilson over the last few years, and now, he's rooting for him to make Team Canada. Strome, who is with Wilson and other NHL stars at the Smilezone Celebrity Golf Tournament up in Ontario this week, said in an interview with TSN's Mark Masters that Wilson should be a lock for the roster. "I fully believe Tom should be on the team," Strome said. "There's no question. There's no one like him. In a tournament like that, he strikes fear into opponents' eyes on a shift-by-shift basis. I'm very glad he's on my team and I don't have to play against him anymore." Wilson is coming off a career year with the Capitals, where he put up 33 goals and 32 assists for 65 points in 81 games, while also recording 233 hits — the 15th most in the league — and 100 penalty minutes. "It is (motivating). You think a lot about it, and just to have your name in the mix at all is a huge privilege," Wilson said. "It's something as a kid you could never even dream of... I'm just going to work as hard as I can, do whatever I can, play well and hopefully it takes care of itself." Strome, meanwhile, is coming off a career year where he led Washington with 82 points in 82 games. While he said that Canada is already deep down the middle, he is happy to be in the conversation when it comes to consideration for that team. "I know Canada's got some pretty good centers that they have in their repertoire. Even to be asked that question is an honor," Strome said, adding he feels a "little" motivation to try and go for a spot on the team. The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Italy in February.
