Cale Makar ineligible for 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship as NHL SUSPENDS players from 2018 roster following sexual assault case

Cale Makar will not be able to participate in any World Championships representing Canada until the 2018 sexual assault case comes to an end.

<strong>Cale Makar ineligible for 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship as NHL SUSPENDS players from 2018 roster following sexual assault case</strong>

Cale Makar [Image Credit: Yahoo Sports]

Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar along with players Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Dante Fabbro has been temporarily suspended by NHL. 

The league declared that until the 2018 sexual attack case comes to an end, the players from that year’s roster will be ineligible to participate in any World Championships. Furthermore, it may not be restricted to only 2023 but may extend further depending on the progress of the investigation.

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The 2018 sexual assault case shook the NHL world to its core and till now the alleged players are not been found. No names as of now have been brought up as the woman decided to keep quiet on this matter. The case revolves around members of the 2018 Canada Juniors Hockey team.

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NHL suspends players of 2018 Hockey Canada roster

Team Hockey Canada [Image Credit: Elle Canada]
Team Hockey Canada [Image Credit: Elle Canada]

According to TSN’s Rick Westhead, the Heritage Committee has asked Hockey Canada to hand over the case to law firm Henein  Hutchison through a unanimously voted process. As per a court filing in Ontario, the police have solid grounds to believe the 2018 Canada team was involved in the sexual assault case of women in a hotel. 

The incident occurred on June 19, 2018, following the Hockey Canada fundraising gala. Although the case was closed in 2019 without any charges, it was reopened in 2022. Suspension of the NHL players will surely have an effect on the players both professionally and mentally.

In a statement, a Hockey Canada sportsperson stated, “Earlier this year, Hockey Canada made a decision that until the investigation and adjudicative process of the alleged incident in 2018 are complete, no players from the 2018 National Junior Team will be considered for participation for Team Canada”. 

“This has been communicated to the management group for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship.” While many players from 2018 have proclaimed their innocence, there are still players who refused to speak about this incident. Their comment may give the investigation a different turn, although the players have kept their silence as of now.

In 2022, April, a woman reportedly filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada, the Canadien Hockey League, and the 8 alleged players. According to her, the incident took place at an Ontario hotel room in June 2018 following the gala dinner event.

Though the woman didn’t mention the players’ names, it was noted by MSN that it was eight  “players for, and members of the CHL and Hockey Canada, including but not limited to members of the Canada U20 Men’s Junior Hockey Team.”

The case and allegations are serious and the league’s newly reopened statement possesses no sign of negligence on this matter. Once the case is resolved, the temporarily suspended players will be able to participate in World Championship matches.

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