Defenseman Victor Mete revealed Wednesday that he had been met by Hockey Canada investigators in connection with the 2018 gang rape allegations.
Posted at 8:39 p.m.
“Earlier today, I was voluntarily interviewed by Hockey Canada investigators regarding the 2018 sexual assault allegations that made headlines recently,” wrote the player who will be playing with the Maple Leafs. Toronto starting next season.
“Notwithstanding the fact that I was out of the country when the incident occurred, I answered all of Hockey Canada’s questions. I intend to cooperate fully with the police, Hockey Canada and the National Hockey League (NHL) in their efforts to clarify this case, ”he continues in a message posted on his Twitter account.
Victor Mete adds having informed Hockey Canada that he agreed that a copy of his interrogation be given to the police and the NHL to allow them to pursue their own investigations.
He thereby confirms the start of the interrogations as part of the independent investigation announced in mid-July by Hockey Canada. Of note, Victor Mete was the first player from the 2018 Canadian junior hockey team to publicly comment, saying he was troubled by the alleged gang rape that occurred four years ago.
On vacation with his family
In June 2018, hours after the Hockey Canada Foundation’s annual gala in London, Ont., eight hockey players allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman in a hotel room.
The victim has filed a civil lawsuit against the suspects, against the Canadian Hockey League (or CHL, which brings together the three major junior hockey leagues in the country) and against Hockey Canada. It was the latter organization that reached an amicable settlement with the complainant.
Some of the suspects were members of the national team that had won gold at the World Junior Championship a few months earlier, and had been honored that evening at the gala.
Victor Mete, a 24-year-old defender who played four seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, was a member of this champion team. However, he had not attended the Hockey Canada gala since he was on vacation with his family in Jamaica.