The NHL has been buzzing with news surrounding the recent scandal involving five players (Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod) charged for an incident in 2018.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who had remained silent until now, has finally released a statement on the matter.

In his statement, Bettman expressed strong condemnation, using words like

to describe the alleged acts.

Despite acknowledging the severity of the situation, he highlighted that official confirmation of indictments from London Police is pending, emphasizing the need to await judicial proceedings.

Bettman stressed that the actions of these players are not representative of NHL players in general, noting that they were not in the NHL at the time of the incident. He asserted the NHL's commitment to inclusivity, safety, and welcoming environments within the game.

Addressing the status of the accused players, Bettman mentioned they are currently not with their teams and are either free agents or have contracts expiring soon. He advised them to focus on defending themselves against charges if they arise.

As the judicial process unfolds, updates will be provided.

As seen on houseofhockey