NHL Throws Out Grooming/Abuse Investigation of Ian Cole
The NHL released a statement today, indicating the league has found no substance to the allegations of sexual abuse and grooming facing Ian Cole. Per the release, the NHL made 'attempts' to contact the Twitter user known as Emily Smith, but they were unsuccessful.
As such, the NHL has ceased the investigation and considers the matter closed.
Full release:
''The National Hockey League announced today that it had concluded its investigation into anonymous allegations posted on social media against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman lan Cole, having found no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
The investigation of the allegations, which were made
anonymously in a social media post on Oct. 7, was conducted by the League's Security and Legal departments.
The investigation included two separate interviews with Mr. Cole as well as interviews with NHL club personnel and other individuals with potentially relevant information. Further, the investigation included a detailed review of on- line and social media, public data, and court records and law enforcement checks. In addition, despite attempts by
the League to make contact with the anonymous source of the social media post, those efforts were unsuccessful.
On the basis of the foregoing, the National Hockey League now considers this matter closed.''
The investigation of the allegations, which were made
anonymously in a social media post on Oct. 7, was conducted by the League's Security and Legal departments.
The investigation included two separate interviews with Mr. Cole as well as interviews with NHL club personnel and other individuals with potentially relevant information. Further, the investigation included a detailed review of on- line and social media, public data, and court records and law enforcement checks. In addition, despite attempts by
the League to make contact with the anonymous source of the social media post, those efforts were unsuccessful.
On the basis of the foregoing, the National Hockey League now considers this matter closed.''
How the case progresses from here is unknown, but something tells me we have not heard the last of it. The nature of the allegations is extremely disturbing.
The NHL's investigation was likely as thorough as it could have been, given that it is a hockey league, not a bureau for unearthing crimes. Still, however, the matter could be processed through legal channels if Smith felt so inclined.
In the initial letter, Smith claims Cole had already been in the NHL for 'a few years,' so the event happened either in St. Louis -- where Cole was drafted and played parts of five seasons -- or in Pittsburgh, where he played from 2015-2018.
Regardless, whether or not the claims have merit, this will not be the final chapter of this story.
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