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Dillon Dube, certainly one of 5 hockey gamers going through sexual assault fees in a high-profile case in London, Ont., is at present within the last season of his contract with the Calgary Flames.
Whereas some followers are calling on the Flames to instantly sever ties with the 25-year-old ahead, authorized specialists say it’s not that straightforward.
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As a substitute, Dube is prone to stay on a paid go away of absence till his deal expires on the finish of June. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman basically confirmed as a lot throughout a press convention Friday in Toronto.
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“The difficulty with terminating the contract is that he’s solely been charged and he hasn’t been convicted,” defined Eric Macramalla, an Ottawa-based accomplice at Gowling WGL and a sports activities authorized analyst for TSN and Forbes, earlier this week. “To the folks saying, ‘Hey, eliminate him,’ what I’d say is nonetheless uncomfortable it could be, it’s important to afford these gamers, these people, due course of and be affected person as the method unfolds. We want the proof to be scrutinized and examined. We have to look at the allegations and whether or not the proof, as a complete, helps a conviction for sexual assault.
“And that’s going to take a variety of time. This isn’t going to occur in a single day.”
It was confirmed Tuesday that Dube is amongst these charged in reference to an investigation that entails 5 gamers from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey workforce. The alleged sexual assault occurred after a Hockey Canada occasion in London in June of that yr.
Dube’s authorized representatives, Louis P. Strezos and Kaleigh Davidson, stated in an announcement “he’ll plead not responsible and maintains his innocence.”
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Accused hockey gamers to make first courtroom look Monday
Police in London are planning to offer an replace throughout a press convention Monday, whereas the gamers are scheduled to make their first courtroom look that very same day.
The others going through fees, as confirmed by their very own legal professionals, are Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Cal Foote and Michael McLeod of the New Jersey Devils, and Alex Formenton of HC Ambri-Piotta within the Swiss League.
All 5 are at present on go away of absence from their respective groups. Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod are all on expiring contracts with their NHL golf equipment.
Requested Friday if these 4 may very well be suspended with out pay for the rest of the season, Bettman replied: “I don’t assume that’s essential at this stage … The truth that they’re away from their groups and never enjoying, I’m snug with.”
Questioned individually on whether or not they might be allowed to return to motion earlier than a possible trial, Bettman informed reporters on the 2024 NHL All-Star Sport: “If I had been them, I’d be specializing in defending themselves … I’d be shocked in the event that they’re enjoying whereas that is pending.”
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Dube, who was born in Golden, B.C., and later moved to Cochrane, was captain of Canada’s world junior squad in 2018. This marked his sixth marketing campaign with the Flames, and he’s nearing the top of a three-year, US$6.9-million extension that he signed in 2021.
When that contract runs out on the finish of June, he’s set to turn out to be a restricted free agent. At that time, the Flames can decline to increase a qualifying supply and that may formally finish his stint on the Saddledome.
Dube appeared in 43 video games this season earlier than a Jan. 21 announcement that he can be away from the workforce indefinitely “as he attends to his psychological well being.” 9 days later, when Dube was named among the many accused, the Flames stated in an announcement: “We had no information of pending fees on the time Dillon’s request for a go away of absence was granted.”
This prison trial might not begin for an additional 18-plus months.
“The courtroom of public opinion may be very completely different than the courtroom of legislation,” confused Wilma Shim, a lawyer and likewise teacher of a sports activities legislation course on the College of Calgary. “Mr. Dube has not been discovered responsible within the courtroom of legislation. Proper now, a cost has been laid, however that’s the begin of a protracted course of.”
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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