Ian Cole Summoned by NHL's Chief Security Officer
In case any hockey fans are unaware, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole stands accused of sexually abusing and grooming at least one minor some years ago.
Cole has been suspended -- with pay -- by the Lightning and is awaiting the results of an investigation the NHL has launched.
In the meantime, Cole has been deposed by the NHL and is set to appear in an in-person interview with the NHL's Chief Security Officer, Jared Maples, per Emily Kaplan of ESPN.
Cole's accusations were cast by an anonymous Twitter user dubbed Emily Smith. According to Smith, Cole groomed her and cultivated a sexual relationship when he was well aware of her age.
''As a teen, I didn't even know what grooming was," Smith said. "When you're young and this happens to you, you don't realize you are a victim. As I got older and built self-esteem, I started to fully understand the extent of what happened to me and that this could never have been consensual.''
The seriousness of these allegations cannot be overstated, and the League had better make absolutely certain whether or not these allegations have merit. It is worth mentioning that Cole had an affair recently with a reporter who covered the Carolina Hurricanes, where Cole played for the 2021-22 season.
So, it is not like Cole doesn't have a history of bad behavior. At a time when sexual assault is the biggest problem in hockey, more and more victims keep coming forward.
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