Content warning: This article discusses sexual assault.
Three more members of Team Canada’s 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship roster have come forward to deny their involvement in an alleged sexual assault that involved eight junior hockey players.
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou played for Team Canada in 2018, as did Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Raddysh and former Anaheim Ducks forward and current unrestricted free agent Sam Steel.
Steel’s agent, Gerry Johannson, published a statement on Tuesday denying his client’s involvement in the alleged assault.
“Sam Steel did not engage in any of the misconduct that has been described in the media, and as far as I know, no one has alleged that he did so,” Johannson said. “Sam has cooperated with every investigation into the matter, and he intends to continue to cooperate.”
Kyrou tweeted a statement on Tuesday claiming that he was not in London, Ontario, in July 2018, the time the assault allegedly took place.
“As a member of the 2018 World Junior team, I am aware of allegations made against certain members of that team,” Kyrou said in the statement. “I want to clearly state I did not attend the Hockey Canada Gala and was not in London, Ontario at the time of the alleged incident.
“I am prepared to cooperate with any additional investigations in the future if necessary,” Kyrou continued.
Raddysh also posted a statement on his personal Twitter account.
“As a member of the 2018 World Junior team, I first became aware of allegations made against certain members of that team back in 2019,” Raddysh said. “At the time, I cooperated fully with the initial Hockey Canada investigation. I was not in any way involved in the alleged incident and I am prepared to cooperate with any additional investigations in the future.”
Kyrou, 24, played for the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting from 2014-15 to 2017-18. The Blues selected him in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Steel, 24, played for the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats from 2013-14 to 2017-18. The Ducks selected him in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Raddysh, 24, played for the OHL’s Erie Otters from 2014-15 to 2017-18 before being traded to the Soo Greyhounds in 2018. The Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Hockey Canada has been strongly criticized in recent weeks for its handling of the alleged assault, with recent reports indicating the governing body maintained a reserve fund to pay for “uninsured liabilities” — including sexual abuse claims.
Kyrou, Steel and Raddysh join Robert Thomas, Victor Mete, Cale Makar, Dante Fabbro, Carter Hart, Cal Foote and Jonah Gadjovich as members of the 2018 team who have denied their involvement in the alleged incident.
Earlier this year, a woman filed suit against Hockey Canada alleging that the assault took place in July 2018 and involved eight junior hockey players, including members of the 2018 World Junior team.
The lawsuit was settled in May, but both Hockey Canada and the National Hockey League have pledged to conduct investigations, with Hockey Canada threatening to ban any players who refuse to cooperate.
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