Lightning suspend Ian Cole pending investigation into sexual abuse allegations
Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times
The Lightning have suspended defenseman Ian Cole pending the results of a league investigation into accusations of sexual abuse.
The NHL is looking into allegations posted on social media Friday from a woman who claims that Cole, a 13-year NHL veteran, had a sexual relationship with her that began when she was a minor, “and he had been playing in the NHL for a few years at that point.” She says Cole groomed her over a four-year stretch.
“We are aware of the allegations posted on social media,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Sunday. “We are looking into it.”
The Lightning said in a statement that they will cooperate fully with the league.
“Our organization takes these allegations very seriously. 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.”
The accuser, who says in her statement on Twitter that she is speaking out anonymously under the @emily_smith3333 handle, details meeting Cole while she was a minor and in high school and being pressured by him to have sex, including meetings at Cole’s team hotel. “On a few occasions, he would ask me to bring other girls from my high school with me, which I refused to do,” she says.
She alleges that Cole manipulated her, boasting about having sex with other women, and she says once she got to college, she found out Cole had sex with another high school-aged minor. The accuser said that one of Cole’s former NHL teammates told her how Cole bragged to his teammates about about having sex with her the night they met, sharing details that only she and Cole would have known.
“Ian felt emboldened to emotionally and sexually abuse me because the NHL fosters a culture of misogyny,” the accuser said in her tweet. “The NHL needs to hold themselves and their players accountable for creating an enabling environment of misogynistic and predatory behavior.”
Cole, 33, joined the Lightning in July, when he signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to help provide a veteran presence to a rebuilt defenseman corps following the trade of defenseman Ryan McDonagh. He figured to play a major role on the blue line as a left-shot defenseman and a penalty killer. On Saturday, in the team’s final preseason game, Cole logged 20:32 minutes of ice time.
Cole’s suspension (with pay) means that newcomer Haydn Fleury will likely join the Lightning’s opening night lineup as the team’s third left-shot defenseman behind Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev. Without Cole, the Lightning have just six defensemen on the active roster, but could add left-shot defenseman Sean Day or right-shot rookie defensemen Nick Perbix or Darren Raddysh for depth.
The accusations against Cole represent the latest black eye for the sport, which is reeling from numerous sexual abuse claims. Nearly a year ago, former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach came forward as the player who sued the franchise for mishandling his allegations that he was sexually abused by a former video coach. The case was settled out of court.
Hockey Canada has come under fire after it was revealed in May that the organization reached a settlement with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of Canada’s world junior team, in 2018. A sexual assault case involving members of the 2003 world junior team came to light in July.
Before signing with Tampa Bay, Cole played with six other teams (Blues, Penguins, Blue Jackets, Avalanche, Wild, Hurricanes), with his most recent stint in Carolina. He was a member of the Pittsburgh team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
The Lightning were off Sunday and practice Monday morning at Amalie Arena before traveling to New York for their nationally-televised season opener against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
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Jay LaPrete
Johnny Hockey moved East, though not as far as everyone thought. The champs out West couldn’t keep the entire band together. And two teams with lengthy playoff droughts made some moves hoping to change that.
Toronto is often called the center of the hockey universe, but this past summer it was Calgary being part of the biggest blockbuster trade: Matthew Tkachuk to Florida for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. Panthers division rivals Ottawa and Detroit also made substantial moves to take another step toward contending.
Despite the salary cap only going up $1 million, plenty of players changed places since the Avalanche dethroned Tampa Bay to win it all.
Jay LaPrete
Johnny Hockey moved East, though not as far as everyone thought. The champs out West couldn’t keep the entire band together. And two teams with lengthy playoff droughts made some moves hoping to change that.
Toronto is often called the center of the hockey universe, but this past summer it was Calgary being part of the biggest blockbuster trade: Matthew Tkachuk to Florida for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. Panthers division rivals Ottawa and Detroit also made substantial moves to take another step toward contending.
Despite the salary cap only going up $1 million, plenty of players changed places since the Avalanche dethroned Tampa Bay to win it all.
‘It’s not right’: Players want more from NHL against racism
Craig Lassig
Gaudreau was the best free agent available, and signs pointed toward a return home to Philadelphia. But the Flyers couldn’t clear cap space to sign the South Jersey native, who chose to sign a $68.25 million, seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets.
“I thought it was a good spot for me, personally,” Gaudreau said. “I think we can have a lot of success here. It’s somewhere that I had circled on my list for a while now. It’s not only from what I’ve heard about the city and where you live, but they’ve got good players on this team, too, and I’m really looking forward to jumping in with this group.”
The Blue Jackets are still not favored to make the playoffs, but they’re closer than before with Gaudreau.
Craig Lassig
Gaudreau was the best free agent available, and signs pointed toward a return home to Philadelphia. But the Flyers couldn’t clear cap space to sign the South Jersey native, who chose to sign a $68.25 million, seven-year contract with the Blue Jackets.
“I thought it was a good spot for me, personally,” Gaudreau said. “I think we can have a lot of success here. It’s somewhere that I had circled on my list for a while now. It’s not only from what I’ve heard about the city and where you live, but they’ve got good players on this team, too, and I’m really looking forward to jumping in with this group.”
The Blue Jackets are still not favored to make the playoffs, but they’re closer than before with Gaudreau.
‘It’s not right’: Players want more from NHL against racism
John Minchillo
After the top eight and bottom eight in the Eastern Conference last season were separated by 16 points — the largest margin since the current format was introduced in 1993-94 — two teams on the outside of the playoff picture took major steps to try to change that.
The Red Wings, who have not made the playoffs the past six seasons, spent $61.5 million in free agency to add center Andrew Copp, wingers David Perron and Dominik Kubalik, and defenseman Ben Chiarot. They also acquired goaltender Ville Husso from St. Louis.
Ottawa, which has missed the playoffs seven of the past nine years, did not wait until free agency to add important pieces. The Senators acquired high-scoring winger Alex DeBrincat from Chicago and goalie Cam Talbot from Minnesota before signing longtime Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux.
After years of patience, excitement is building in Canada's captial.
“We wanted to do it the right way,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. “We didn’t want to put Band-Aid solutions when we did this: try to sign free agents, make one trade and then one year you’re in, the other year you’re out. Doing it this way, we just feel like more for long-term success."
John Minchillo
After the top eight and bottom eight in the Eastern Conference last season were separated by 16 points — the largest margin since the current format was introduced in 1993-94 — two teams on the outside of the playoff picture took major steps to try to change that.
The Red Wings, who have not made the playoffs the past six seasons, spent $61.5 million in free agency to add center Andrew Copp, wingers David Perron and Dominik Kubalik, and defenseman Ben Chiarot. They also acquired goaltender Ville Husso from St. Louis.
Ottawa, which has missed the playoffs seven of the past nine years, did not wait until free agency to add important pieces. The Senators acquired high-scoring winger Alex DeBrincat from Chicago and goalie Cam Talbot from Minnesota before signing longtime Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux.
After years of patience, excitement is building in Canada's captial.
“We wanted to do it the right way,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. “We didn’t want to put Band-Aid solutions when we did this: try to sign free agents, make one trade and then one year you’re in, the other year you’re out. Doing it this way, we just feel like more for long-term success."
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David Becker
Colorado's biggest shakeup after winning the Cup was in net, acquiring Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers and paving the way for Kuemper to depart in free agency. The Avalanche signed Georgiev to a three-year contract and will pair him with Czech veteran Pavel Francouz.
“When he was a starter, he played really well, and he wanted a bigger opportunity and he’s got that opportunity,” president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said of Georgiev. “Frankie, he’s a great backup goaltender who can come in and play 30, 40 games. I think they’re going to be a great duo.”
The Avalanche kept much of their core together and also made a potentially valuable depth free agent signing by getting forward Evan Rodrigues for $2 million.
“I love the Rodrigues signing,” top forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “We get a 45-point guy for $2 million, it's crazy: 19 goals. I saw he shot like 7% last year and scored 19, so I think it’s hot. Who knows how many goals he’ll score?”
David Becker
Colorado's biggest shakeup after winning the Cup was in net, acquiring Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers and paving the way for Kuemper to depart in free agency. The Avalanche signed Georgiev to a three-year contract and will pair him with Czech veteran Pavel Francouz.
“When he was a starter, he played really well, and he wanted a bigger opportunity and he’s got that opportunity,” president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said of Georgiev. “Frankie, he’s a great backup goaltender who can come in and play 30, 40 games. I think they’re going to be a great duo.”
The Avalanche kept much of their core together and also made a potentially valuable depth free agent signing by getting forward Evan Rodrigues for $2 million.
“I love the Rodrigues signing,” top forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “We get a 45-point guy for $2 million, it's crazy: 19 goals. I saw he shot like 7% last year and scored 19, so I think it’s hot. Who knows how many goals he’ll score?”
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Marta Lavandier
In addition to trading for Tkachuk, who adds some size and sandpaper, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winning-Panthers signed defenseman Marc Staal and brought brother Eric to training camp for a tryout. The brothers were on vacation together, with the deals coming together on the back nine at Pebble Beach.
“It was crazy,” said brother Jordal Staal, who's captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. “They’re both just super pumped. ... Really cool thing.”
Marta Lavandier
In addition to trading for Tkachuk, who adds some size and sandpaper, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winning-Panthers signed defenseman Marc Staal and brought brother Eric to training camp for a tryout. The brothers were on vacation together, with the deals coming together on the back nine at Pebble Beach.
“It was crazy,” said brother Jordal Staal, who's captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. “They’re both just super pumped. ... Really cool thing.”
GM Julien BriseBois did some bargain shopping to sign winger Vladislav Namestnikov and veteran defenseman Ian Cole. He also thinks defenseman Philippe Myers — the return for McDonagh — has the chance to exceed expectations after a rough couple of seasons.
“We saw a lot of potential in him not that long ago,” BriseBois said. “He’s got a really good toolbox. Hopefully in a new environment we’re able to get the most out of him, and if we can do that we’re going to have a really good defenseman on our hands who’s only 25 years old.”
GM Julien BriseBois did some bargain shopping to sign winger Vladislav Namestnikov and veteran defenseman Ian Cole. He also thinks defenseman Philippe Myers — the return for McDonagh — has the chance to exceed expectations after a rough couple of seasons.
“We saw a lot of potential in him not that long ago,” BriseBois said. “He’s got a really good toolbox. Hopefully in a new environment we’re able to get the most out of him, and if we can do that we’re going to have a really good defenseman on our hands who’s only 25 years old.”
Lightning suspend Ian Cole pending investigation into sexual abuse allegations
Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS
Ian Cole, who joined the Lightning in the offseason, played with six other teams (Blues, Penguins, Blue Jackets, Avalanche, Wild, Hurricanes) before landing in Tampa Bay. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)
Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS
Ian Cole, who joined the Lightning in the offseason, played with six other teams (Blues, Penguins, Blue Jackets, Avalanche, Wild, Hurricanes) before landing in Tampa Bay. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)
