Dube Isn’t Option For Team Canada At Worlds With Investigation Ongoing

With the Calgary Flames a longshot for the NHL playoffs, a silver lining for the players is a chance to keep playing in May. 

Unfortunately for Flames winger Dillon Dube, the 2023 IIHF men’s world championship in Finland and Latvia this year isn’t an option. 

A TSN report says Hockey Canada will prevent players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team from playing for the national team until an investigation of an alleged group sexual assault is completed. Dube was captain of that world junior team. The assault investigation stems from a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont., that year.

Dube addressed the investigation in training camp with the Calgary Flames this season. 

“I’ve cooperated in any way possible and will continue cooperating. I’ve done everything I can to cooperate,” Dube told reporters in the fall. 

“With (the investigation) going on, I wish I could share more. But that’s all I can share to this point. I would love to be transparent. I know that’s all I can really say on it to be honest. For me, I wish I could tell.”

The tournament will be played in the co-host cities of Tampere and Riga from May 12-28. The Hockey Canada statement shared by TSN suggests the management team of Doug Armstrong and Steve Yzerman have been told about these restrictions. 

“Earlier this year, Hockey Canada made a decision that until the investigation and adjudicative process of the alleged incident in 2018 are complete, no players from the 2018 National Junior Team will be considered for participation for Team Canada,” the statement read. “This has been communicated to the management group for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship.”

A motion from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage was passed to direct Hockey Canada to hand over a report prepared for them by Toronto law firm Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP about the alleged assault — although there was also reportedly an agreement to redact names that should be kept private. 

Back in December, The Globe and Mail reported that London investigators believed they could charge five members of that team with sexual assault, and include others as witnesses. It also did not preclude that others could become additional suspects. 

Investigations into the allegations by police and the NHL are considered ongoing. 

Dube has had a solid season for the Calgary Flames, setting a career high in points (41) and tying the benchmark of 18 goals he set last year. He might have been a strong consideration for Team Canada because of his versatility and ability to play all situations. Andrew Mangiapane would also be on a Canadian candidate list, despite his drop from a 35-goal season a year ago.