NEWS
Gary Bettman rules on the future of 2018 World Junior players who were found Not Guilty Full story đ

âď¸ Legal Outcome
Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted all five individuals of sexual assault charges stemming from a June 2018 incident in London, Ontario.
She ruled that the Crown had failed to meet its burden of proof, deeming the complainantâs testimony not âcredible or reliable.â The charges were dismissed as there was insufficient evidence .
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đ NHL & Commissioner Bettmanâs Position
Despite the not-guilty verdict, Bettman and the NHL declared that the players remain ineligible to play in the league until a formal league review is completed. The NHL described the behavior in question as âunacceptable,â even absent criminal convictions .
Bettman emphasized that the NHL will âreview and considerâ the judgeâs findings before making any reinstatement decisions .
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đ¤ NHLPA (Playersâ Union) Response
The NHL Playersâ Association strongly objected, arguing that declaring the players ineligible before a full league investigation contradicts the procedures in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The NHLPA stated that, having been acquitted, the players âshould now have the opportunity to return to workâ and be allowed to play immediately .
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đ Possible Outcomes & Precedents
1. Internal League Review
The NHL is conducting its own investigation into the incident, separate from the criminal proceedings. This must conclude before any reinstatement decisions are made .
2. Appeal or Arbitration
Dispute resolution may take place through mechanisms outlined in the CBA, possibly involving arbitration between NHL and NHLPA representatives.
3. Team-Level Decisions
Even if cleared by the NHL, individual teams will weigh public optics, sponsorships, community relations, and reputational risk before signing or re-signing any of the players .
4. Past NHL Reinstatements
The league has previously reinstated individuals linked to sexual misconduct controversiesâsuch as Stan Bowman and Joel Quennevilleâafter bans, suggesting similar avenues may exist for these players, depending on NHL outcomes .
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đ Summary Table
Aspect Status
Legal Verdict All five players acquitted; no guilt found under Ontario law
NHL Eligibility Players currently ineligible pending NHL review
NHLPA Position Players should be immediately reinstated per CBA
Reinstatement Process Conditional on NHLâs internal findings and potential arbitration
Team-Level Decisions Vary based on public perception, sponsor risk, team discretion
Precedents Exist NHL previously reinstated figures post-controversy
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In short, Gary Bettmanâs ruling does not terminate the playersâ NHL careersâbut it places them on indefinite hold. Their return hinges on the outcome of the NHLâs internal review, alignment (or dispute) with the CBA, and the willingness of individual teams to sign them amid reputational concerns.