Breaking: charges coming for 2018 WJC

[Darkwing Puck]

I posted this quote from Danny Briere in another thread, it's pretty damning for Hart:

"We are aware of this morning's press reports ... We will respond appropriately when the outcomes of the investigations are made public. The NHL has been very clear that teams should refer all investigation related questions to them."

[SeaDawg]

I know there are most serious issues than fantasy hockey...but given this is a fantasy hockey site, the 5 players being virtually identified is a relief for owners of Thomas, Kyrou, Batherson, and Makar.

[2014olympicgold]

I know it a business, and especially with a union involved, but man....Flyers, Calgary and New Jersey having to know something about their players and still playing them...McLeod signing a 1yr deal in July .....

Tampa almost instantly dumping Foote once the news starting happening makes you wonder too (Feb 2020)

[Dennis]

Foote and McLeod have been granted indefinite leave from the Devils

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1750202758324490322

[Pengwin7]

Add Note:
Does anybody else remember a report that two of the guys involved were 1999 birth years?
Formenton is the only one of the five.
Robert Thomas & Max Comtois were the other two guys on WJC 2018 team born in 1999.
I think Thomas' statement clears him well.
Comtois I can't remember.

Though... maybe there were non-WJC 2018 players involved (if there is 8 in total, with only 5 being from WJC 2018)... and maybe one of those is a 1999 birthday.
IDK.

[SeaDawg]

Or the report on the birth years was incorrect/inaccurate.

[2014olympicgold]

The original investigation was on 8 people. The London Police in October said they had evidence to pursue 5 Hockey Canada players. There's 3 people who are either getting off the hook, or 3 that weren't on the team.

The 1999 birth year person might be one of the 3 people.

[PenguinHunter]

I know it a business, and especially with a union involved, but man....Flyers, Calgary and New Jersey having to know something about their players and still playing them...McLeod signing a 1yr deal in July .....

Tampa almost instantly dumping Foote once the news starting happening makes you wonder too (Feb 2020)

What would the NHLPA say if these teams didn't play there players?

[2014olympicgold]

What would the NHLPA say if these teams didn't play there players?

That's why mentioned the union. But Foote, Dube, and Hart I get, but signing McLeod....The only reason Formenton isn't in the NHL is because the Melnyk Sisters refused to sign him because (presumably) his involvement in the Hockey Canada investigation.

NHLPA didn't say anything about Formenton, so McLeod could have gone without a deal.

[Dennis]

Thomas' and Comtois' statements on the matter were pretty much the same

Comtois https://nitter.net/pic/orig/media%2FFYJN8hFX0AE_-x8.jpg

Thomas https://nitter.net/pic/orig/media%2FFYDQfp6XoAAZh14.jpg

[Pengwin7]

The original investigation was on 8 people. The London Police in October said they had evidence to pursue 5 Hockey Canada players. There's 3 people who are either getting off the hook, or 3 that weren't on the team.

The 1999 birth year person might be one of the 3 people.

I didn't think of this... but Alex Formenton was playing for the London Knights in the 2017-18 season (& 2018-19 season).
Robert Thomas was on that team too... but was traded Jan.8th (just after WJC ended)... to Hamilton Bulldogs.
https://www.statscrew.com/minorhocke...t-10772/y-2017

So - Formenton had some ties to the area...
And he certainly knew the London party-life somewhat.

[2014olympicgold]

Ya I want to say there was a person who was there in the room when consensual things were happening between Player 1 and Jane Doe, then the person left to pick up food he got delivered, came back into the room and the non-consensual things were happening and the person left.

He would be involved in the initial investigation (the 8), but might have enough evidence to clear himself of the potentially charged (the 5). Not saying it is true, but what if this was Comtois or Thomas. Would cover both scenarios of the born in 1999 and only 5 are summoned.

[Darkwing Puck]

The only reason Formenton isn't in the NHL is because the Melnyk Sisters refused to sign him because (presumably) his involvement in the Hockey Canada investigation.

I'm still not quite sure what to make of the Formenton situation. It's sure suspicious that the Sens haven't signed him and haven't found a team willing to trade for him. But at the same time, even after the reports of the 2018 incident were made public, my recollection is that he signed pretty quickly in the Swiss League, where he's still playing.

EDIT: Never mind, I just saw that he's been granted a leave of absence by his Swiss team. It's not looking good for him.

[2014olympicgold]

I'm still not quite sure what to make of the Formenton situation. It's sure suspicious that the Sens haven't signed him and haven't found a team willing to trade for him. But at the same time, even after the reports of the 2018 incident were made public, my recollection is that he signed pretty quickly in the Swiss League, where he's still playing.

EF even reported the Melnyk sisters refused to sign Formenton. There's not really suspicion there. And I'm sure teams were not willing to go out and spend an asset on a guy who had this circling him so publicly.

Formenton going to Europe to play tho...I question them too. They would have known the situation, but it's just far enough away, and he's just good enough there to deal with the issues. The whole "know your worth". Swiss team thought his worth was worth the hassle. Ottawa and NHL teams didn't think he was.

That's why I'm so shocked at the Devils signing McLeod in July 2023 and Cal Foote in Aug 2023....But I guess Tom Fitzgerald (GM for Devils) didn't care...

[Pengwin7]

The 5(wjc2018can)+3 player count and the "two born in 1999" goes back to Ken Campbell - so I think that is trustworthy.
https://twitter.com/Steve_Dangle/sta...96926188396545

Of that 8:
6 born in 1999 (dube, foote, hart, mcleod + two non wjc-can)
2 born in 1998 (formenton + one non wjc-can)
One has to assume that one of these 5 players had some buddies in London (teammates? friends?) that joined at bar.


One "photo of 5" from the event, with Howden/Katchouk/Raddysh/Formenton/McLeod:
https://twitter.com/mikazibanejads/s...54887402696706


If one were to order them by last name attending (19 of the 22 roster players):
Note: Mete, Kyrou, and Clague were not in attendance at London gala.

Batherson - OHL (@JB)
Bean - OHL (@JB)

Comtois - WHL
Dube - WHL Kelowna (@JB)

Fabbro**
Foote - WHL Kelowna (@JB)

Formenton - OHL London (too young for bar)
Hart - WHL Everett

Howden - WHL (@JB)
Gadjovich - OHL (@JB)

Katchouk - OHL (@JB)
Makar**

McLeod - OHL Mississauga (@JB)
Point** (@JB)

Raddysh - OHL (@JB)
Steel - WHL

Steenbergen - WHL
Thomas - OHL (too young for bar)
Timmins - OHL

**Makar, Fabbro, and Colton Point were all playing NCAA in 2017-18.
So I'm not sure if HockeyCanada would've set up rooms for them like the other 16 attending CHL players

(@JB) These are the guys I remember seeing in photos at Jack's Bar. (Since scrubbed from reddit thread)