Avalanche’s Cale Makar on alleged 2018 incident: “I can’t stress enough that I wasn’t part of that”

TORONTO — Five players, including four currently playing in the NHL, have turned themselves into London, Ontario, police and reportedly been charged with sexual assault in connection to an alleged 2018 incident at an event celebrating Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the world junior championships earlier that year.

Two players from that team are here for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Blues forward Robert Thomas. Both players addressed the situation Thursday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena.

“It’s tough. I’ve been told not to comment on that ongoing investigation. I’ve been straightforward from the start. I wasn’t there,” Makar said. “It was a very fortunate bounce to not obviously be a part of something like that. I’m just going to leave it to the people who are handling the work right now. I can’t stress enough that I wasn’t part of that.”

Makar has previously said he was not involved in the alleged incident and has cooperated with a Hockey Canada investigation.

Flyers goalie Carter Hart, Devils forward Michael McLeod, Devils defenseman Cal Foote, Flames forward Dillon Dube and former Senators forward Alex Formenton have all taken leaves of absence from their teams. Foote is the son of former Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote.

All five have reportedly been charged with sexual assault.

The woman alleged in a civil lawsuit that eight players were involved in the sexual assault. The lawsuit was dropped after Hockey Canada reached a settlement with the woman, but London police have scheduled a Monday press conference and the charges are expected to be officially announced.

“I’ve cooperated with the investigation, and that all I’m going to comment,” Thomas told reporters, according to the Associated Press. “That’s all I’ve got for you.”

It was reported in May that all members of the 2018 team were banned from representing Hockey Canada while the organization conducted an investigation into the situation. Makar was not allowed to join Canada’s roster at the 2023 world championships after the Avalanche was eliminated from the NHL playoffs.

“It was a little bit weird,” Makar said. “I wasn’t eligible to play in that. Even having that in the back of my mind and it not being possible, it was tough. At the end of the day, actions have consequences. That’s kind of what I was taught growing up, regardless of the that situation that’s going on now. I’m just going to defer back to what’s been said. I don’t know too much of any of the details.”

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