This past Sunday, defenseman Ian Cole was officially suspended by the Tampa Bay Lightning for allegedly grooming and sexually abusing a minor, and kicking off an in-depth investigation from the National Hockey League.
Officials for the Lightning put out a statement acknowledging the allegations regarding Cole and stated that they would be cooperating fully with all agencies informed in the investigation.
“Our organization takes these allegations very seriously,” the team stated via a release, according to The New York Post. “While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation. No members of the organization, including players, will comment further at this time.”
One user, who has been officially identified as Emily Smith, levied these allegations via social media this past Friday, stating that Cole groomed and sexually assaulted her along with another minor just a few years prior to the career of the professional hockey player kicked off.
“Ian felt emboldened to emotionally and sexually abuse me and other women because the NHL fosters a culture of misogyny,” stated Smith via Twitter. “The NHL needs to hold themselves and their players accountable for creating an enabling environment of misogynistic and predator behavior.”
She went on to state that anyone who tried to “defend his character are the ones who have enabled him to do this for so long and know very well of his abusive behavior toward women.”
My statement on being groomed and sexually abused by Tampa Bay Lightning and NHL player Ian Cole. @TBLightning @NHL #tampabaylightning #Canes #NHL #IanCole pic.twitter.com/IJ438bhodt
— Emily Smith (@emily_smith3333) October 7, 2022
In light of the claims, Cole has outright denied all of the allegations in a statement issued to The Associated Press, going further to state that he would also be cooperating with the team, league, and all legal departments for the ongoing investigation.
“I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously,” stated Cole. “I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded.”
Bill Daly, the NHL Deputy Commissioner, stated on Sunday to The Associated Press that the league launched the investigation, going further to add that the organization had zero previous knowledge of the allegations slammed until they were brought to light via social media.
Cole has been a part of the NHL as a player since kicking off his career in 2010, where he made his debut as a member of the St. Louis Blues for a total of five seasons until he was traded over to the Pittsburgh Penguins, as reported by The Associated Press.
He has historically played for quite a few teams such as the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and Carolina Hurricanes, all prior to joining Tampa Bay with a $3 million single-year contract.
Cole has also been on the winning team for the Stanley Cup a total of two times.
