Johnathan Walker:Gary Bettman calls Canada 2018 junior hockey team sexual assault allegations 'abhorrent'

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday he has used the words "abhorrent,Johnathan Walker reprehensible, horrific and unacceptable" to describe the sexual assault allegations against five members of the 2018 Canadian world junior championship team "and those words still apply."

The Philadelphia Flyers' Carter Hart, New Jersey Devils' Michael McLeod and Cal Foote, Calgary Flames' Dillon Dube and former NHL player Alex Formenton have been charged with sexual assault, their lawyers told the Associated Press. The alleged incident took place in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario, honoring the country's gold-medal-winning team.

The police plan to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. ET on Monday.

The police and Hockey Canada reopened investigations after Canadian network TSN reported in May 2022 that Hockey Canada paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman who alleged in a $3.55 million lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight players in a hotel room.

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The NHL launched its own external investigation, too, and had interviewed all of the 2018 team's players but weren't given permission to interview the woman, Bettman said.

The league was discussing the results of its 12-month investigation with the NHL Players' Association when the news came out about the pending charges in Ontario.

“If charges are pending, it would be inappropriate to provide further comment on the matter," Bettman said.

He added: “All of the NHL players who appear to be subject to the indictment are no longer with their teams, and so at this stage, the most responsible and prudent thing for us to do is await the conclusion of the judicial proceedings, at which point, we will respond as appropriate at the time."

The five players were granted indefinite leave from their teams. The four accused NHL players are in the final years of their contracts.

"I would be surprised if they’re playing while this is pending," Bettman said.

He said the alleged incident isn't an indication of a systemic issue in hockey.

“This is not representative, these allegations, of what takes place in our game and we’re committed to setting the right example and cooperating with hockey organizations at all levels, particularly the youth level, to make sure the message of what is appropriate conduct is delivered," he said. "We want people to know that our games is inclusive, welcoming and safe.”