Victor Mete issues statement denying involvement in alleged sexual assault at 2018 Hockey Canada event

Ottawa Senators defenceman Victor Mete, who played for Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, issued a statement on Thursday denying his involvement in an alleged sexual assault after a Hockey Canada event in June 2018.

Mete, 24, said he was on vacation in Jamaica at that time and pledged to “co-operate in any way” in an investigation. The victim of the alleged assault filed a lawsuit in April, which was settled a few weeks later; in recent weeks, Hockey Canada has lost most of its prominent sponsors and had its federal funding frozen.

Here is my statement regarding the ongoing Hockey Canada investigation: pic.twitter.com/bE3WnuxyLU

— vmete98 (@vmete98) June 30, 2022

“I believe it is important for me to state that I was not present at the gala event celebration when this appalling event occurred,” Mete said Thursday. “At the time, I was away on vacation with family and friends in Jamaica and only learned of the situation recently through media reports.

“I am deeply troubled by reports of this incident and should my help be requested by those investigating this matter, I will fully co-operate in any way I can.”

In the lawsuit, the unidentified woman alleged eight players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team assaulted her at a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario. The eight players have also not been identified.

Mete played the 2017–18 National Hockey League season with the Montreal Canadiens and was released in December to participate in the World Junior Championship with Team Canada.

He started the next three seasons with the Canadiens before joining the Senators off waivers in 2021.