Report: Former NHLer Ryan Kesler charged with two counts of criminal sexual misconduct
In a courtroom in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. on Monday, former Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler was arraigned on two misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, according to a report from The Athletic.
Per the report, Kesler pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were filed against the 41-year-old on Oct. 23 over events that occurred on Jan. 1. Orchard Lake police stated that Kesler was booked and posted bond, which was set at $50,000. His next court appearance, scheduled for Nov. 6, is a probable cause conference.
Kesler’s attorney, Robert Morad, told The Athletic that his client is innocent.
“Ryan emphatically denies the allegations and is completely innocent of the charges. The charges are baseless, and he is prepared to fight them vigorously in court,” Morad said. “As the legal process begins, we ask for respect for his privacy and for the integrity of the judicial system. We are confident, when all the facts and circumstances are presented, that he will be fully exonerated.”
Kesler played 15 seasons in the NHL, 10 in Vancouver before rounding out his tenure with the Ducks. His career ended following the 2018-19 season, after he was unable to fully recover from his injuries, which included him undergoing hip resurfacing surgery before being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
In 2010-11, the Livonia, Mich. native won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward. That same season, he helped Vancouver advance to the Stanley Cup Final, ultimately losing to the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Along with his time in the NHL, Kesler also represented the United States on multiple occasions. He played for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, helping the team bring home the silver from Vancouver in 2010. He also played for the U.S. at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Kesler’s biggest international achievement came in 2004, when he and the Americans won gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in the country’s history.