Eklund: Hockey Canada Verdict Shortly…

Sorry about your careers, but the Canadian government needed a story to tell. Yeah, we'll always remember you as perverts who demonstrably and physically hate women so yeah, that will suck a bit, but we do have a job to do here and a big part of it is iconoclasm. There is something rotten at the heart of hockey culture and you're the proof.

Now the question begs…..who’s responsible for the players lost revenue and careers? Does Bettman issue an apology after his inflammatory comments? This issue is not over by a long shot.

And here come the comments from the incels…

They may be “not guilty” by the letter of the law but are still trash.

I’m sure we’ll see GM’s willing to welcome them back into the nhl.

Now the question begs…..who’s responsible for the players lost revenue and careers? Does Bettman issue an apology after his inflammatory comments? This issue is not over by a long shot.
- landros 2

This ruling doesn't mean they didn't engage in conduct unbecoming to the league. Their junior status doesn't change that. There will be no apology. Could the teams get sued? Sure, anyone can sue anyone for anything. There might be a settlement if that happens but that means little. It is a business decision.

These guys will be playing for Ak Bars shortly.

Now the question begs…..who’s responsible for the players lost revenue and careers? Does Bettman issue an apology after his inflammatory comments? This issue is not over by a long shot.
- landros 2

Not over how? I imagine the players will want this to disappear as fast as possible.

What did Bettman say as I do not recall.

And here come the comments from the incels…

They may be “not guilty” by the letter of the law but are still trash.

I’m sure we’ll see GM’s willing to welcome them back into the nhl.
- TurdFergeson

Why shouldn't they?

100% they should be allowed back…

This ruling doesn't mean they didn't engage in conduct unbecoming to the league. Their junior status doesn't change that. There will be no apology. Could the teams get sued? Sure, anyone can sue anyone for anything. Thee might be a settlement if that happens.

These guys will be playing for Ak Bars shortly.
- Only_A_Ladd

No It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have made better decisions…but is it then OK that theses guys have been wrongfully accused and had their live’s and carriers upended? I don’t even blame the Girl for that….but the people that kept this thing going should provide something even to acknowledge this was beyond flimsy from the get go….now we know why it took 7 years to get the police to lay charges.

No It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have made better decisions…but is it then OK that theses guys have been wrongfully accused and had their live’s and carriers upended? I don’t even blame the Girl for that….but the people that kept this thing going should provide something even to acknowledge this was beyond flimsy from the get go….now we know why it took 7 years to get the police to lay charges.
- landros 2

They were wrongfully accused or the govt didn't make their case? I have not heard that the judge found a lack of probable cause, but that the accuser lacked credibility and reliability. The govt didn't meet their burden of proof. That's a far cry from "wrongfully accused."

Yes: the whole thing is tragic.

Sorry about your careers, but the Canadian government needed a story to tell. Yeah, we'll always remember you as perverts who demonstrably and physically hate women so yeah, that will suck a bit, but we do have a job to do here and a big part of it is iconoclasm. There is something rotten at the heart of hockey culture and you're the proof.
- OilyJay

The Canadian government didn’t have anything to do with this. Charges were brought based on the work of local police and provincial Crown Attorneys. Nice spin though

Now the question begs…..who’s responsible for the players lost revenue and careers? Does Bettman issue an apology after his inflammatory comments? This issue is not over by a long shot.
- landros 2

They are.

What a stupid question.

I blame both the “victim” and the players stupidity in this case. I’m a female and think she most likely over played her hand (probably for money) and these stupid dumb kids did something to cause all of this. These idiots aren’t innocent. They’re just not guilty in the court of law.

No It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have made better decisions…but is it then OK that theses guys have been wrongfully accused and had their live’s and carriers upended? I don’t even blame the Girl for that….but the people that kept this thing going should provide something even to acknowledge this was beyond flimsy from the get go….now we know why it took 7 years to get the police to lay charges.
- landros 2

Again: they were not “wrongfully accused”. It wasn’t proven beyond a doubt, which is very difficult to do which is why most of these types of crimes go unpunished. Huge difference.

No It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have made better decisions…but is it then OK that theses guys have been wrongfully accused and had their live’s and carriers upended? I don’t even blame the Girl for that….but the people that kept this thing going should provide something even to acknowledge this was beyond flimsy from the get go….now we know why it took 7 years to get the police to lay charges.
- landros 2

How was it flimsy? The actions of the players was never in dispute. The trial hinged on the question of consent. In Canadian law a victim cannot give consent if she was too intoxicated or in fear. The prosecution argued that she was and the judge didn’t agree.

The league and teams will decide about their playing future based both on the verdict and their behaviour in the room.

(I got a month ban for making this point before, so bye.)

How was it flimsy? The actions of the players was never in dispute. The trial hinged on the question of consent. In Canadian law a victim cannot give consent if she was too intoxicated or in fear. The prosecution argued that she was and the judge didn’t agree.

The league and teams will decide about their playing future based both on the verdict and their behaviour in the room.

(I got a month ban for making this point before, so bye.)
- Canada Cup

Flimsy in the sense the police on 2 occasions didn’t see enough evidence to bring charges. Only after the payment from Hockey Canada payment went public did the case rise from the dead. Listen, as a father of 3 girls I hoped from the start these guys would face proper justice if they did force this girl with out her consent into improper acts….what adult wouldn’t want that? But after listening to the whole thing I thought exactly as the judge did.
So ya Flimsy.

They are.

What a stupid question.

I blame both the “victim” and the players stupidity in this case. I’m a female and think she most likely over played her hand (probably for money) and these stupid dumb kids did something to cause all of this. These idiots aren’t innocent. They’re just not guilty in the court of law.
- KINGS67

So I guess where you are from being stupid and irresponsible equates to a crime. Only if your the accused though. Say what you want but the crime is what they are found to be innocent of.

Drunken orgies are extremely extremely rare. A drunk person would never do these kinds of things.

The initial issue for me was hockey Canada and the slush funds. Parents are paying for their kids to attend camps, etc and some of that $$ was for paying off settlements thru the National Equity Fund? $7.6M was from membership fees. I bet the parents who paid those fees didnt think their $ was going for that. Since 1989, there have been 21 different people coming forward. That 2nd fund was created specifically for NDAs and settlements starting in 1999. Why? This reads like the Big 10 scandals. Needed to protect the brand above everything else: Ohio State Wrestling, Penn State Football and Larry Nassar at Michigan State. If they just would have done what any decent adult would do, this would not have taken all this time for this result. But they chose to protect Hockey Canada. I am glad the board turned over.

That being said, there is no reason why these players cant resume their careers. The court has made its decision. Too bad this wasnt completed sooner for all involved.

If the proven innocent then the nhlpa bettman and company plus all owners would have sit down and debate whether to reinstate those players accused.

The Canadian government didn’t have anything to do with this. Charges were brought based on the work of local police and provincial Crown Attorneys. Nice spin though
- Canada Cup

Isn't the Provincial Crown part of the Canadian Government? Not trying to argue but in the articles about the verdict and the judge's ruling it seems like both were mentioned somewhat interchangeably.

The initial issue for me was hockey Canada and the slush funds. Parents are paying for their kids to attend camps, etc and some of that $$ was for paying off settlements thru the National Equity Fund? $7.6M was from membership fees. I bet the parents who paid those fees didnt think their $ was going for that. Since 1989, there have been 21 different people coming forward. That 2nd fund was created specifically for NDAs and settlements starting in 1999. Why? This reads like the Big 10 scandals. Needed to protect the brand above everything else: Ohio State Wrestling, Penn State Football and Larry Nassar at Michigan State. If they just would have done what any decent adult would do, this would not have taken all this time for this result. But they chose to protect Hockey Canada. I am glad the board turned over.

That being said, there is no reason why these players cant resume their careers. The court has made its decision. Too bad this wasnt completed sooner for all involved.
- i'mjustafan

you do realize that all large orgs like hockey canada have these slush funds, US congress has one, and ill bet that the canadian parliament has one. women lie and when money is involved woman lie often and because of that real victims get, for a lack o a better word, screwed because no one believes them.

I don't care what the judge says, their behavior is terrible. Should be banned on moral grounds.

In addition, NHL should also ban the following:

-players who cheat on their wives or girlfriends
-players who visit strip clubs and brothels
-players who have used illegal drugs, starting with Ekblad
-players like DeAngelo who openly support far right ideas
-Ovechkin because of Putin
-etc...

Clean up this league and have better morals!!

Isn't the Provincial Crown part of the Canadian Government? Not trying to argue but in the articles about the verdict and the judge's ruling it seems like both were mentioned somewhat interchangeably.
- Queenie_5_hole

A few points:

We’re talking about different levels of government - local police, provincial crown attorneys vs the federal or Canadian government. Our friend from Alberta who I was responding to likely hates the federal government and wants to lay this on them.

The Canadian judicial system is less politicized than the American. Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General are elected but everyone below them are career civil servants. There isn’t the same kind of interference and prosecutors have a lot of discretion. Judges aren’t really political appointees as well. Provincial judges are selected through by a non political body (made up of judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers and community reps) and send a few nominees to the Attorney General who makes the selection. The current Ontario government is trying to assert more control over the system.

I don't care what the judge says, their behavior is terrible. Should be banned on moral grounds.

In addition, NHL should also ban the following:

-players who cheat on their wives or girlfriends
-players who visit strip clubs and brothels
-players who have used illegal drugs, starting with Ekblad
-players like DeAngelo who openly support far right ideas
-Ovechkin because of Putin
-etc...

Clean up this league and have better morals!!
- HockeyBuzzed

Cocaine included? Because that's the entire league.

Eklund: Hockey Canada Verdict Shortly…
- Eklund

The victim is still with his boyfriend after she cheated on him. What they did is all wrong including EM. They all want to move on from this big pile of poop. Why is everybody dragging this still?