Gary Bettman said it is not necessary for the NHL to suspend players without pay who are accused of sexual abuse.
Gary Bettman as photographed in 2023. PDO
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at a press conference on Friday that the NHL players accused of sexual assault have now all left the team and are free agents at the end of the season, so they do not need unpaid suspensions. Reported about it CBC.
The charges relate to the alleged group-specific sexual abuse of players on Canada’s 2018 World Junior Team.
– I don’t think it’s necessary at this point. This is, as I have repeatedly said, a rather complex issue, Bettman told reporters
– The fact that they are away from their teams and don’t play is fine with me. In any case, they have been paid the vast majority of their salary for this year.
According to Bettman, the team can only terminate the player’s contract if “they can prove certain things”. According to Bettman, the players involved in the matter will still be paid.
At the end of January, the London police in Canada demanded that five Canadian ice hockey players surrender to the police department. According to TSN it was Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote. Also played in Switzerland Alex Formenton reported to the police.
Lawyers for the players say they have denied any wrongdoing and are pleading not guilty.
According to Bettman, such criminal charges are “uncharacteristic of NHL players.” The players have not yet been found guilty of any crime.