Woman alleges former NHLer Willie Mitchell sexually assaulted her in 2022
According to a Canadian Press story published on Thursday, a woman has filed a lawsuit against Willie Mitchell and Tofino Resort + Marina, alleging she was sexually assaulted by the former NHL defenseman while she was “extremely intoxicated.”
According to the civil claim filed with the British Columbia Supreme Court on Wednesday, the woman, whose name was left out of the lawsuit, was employed with the resort as a server in September 2022.
The woman claims that on September 11, 2022, she was working a shift while the resort was hosting a fishing tournament, and after her shift was completed, she went to an adjoining pub, where she became “visibly impaired.” After this point in time, the woman claims that her memories of the evening were “fragmented.” The woman then claims that Mitchell escorted her from the pub back to his home where, without “express or implied” consent from the woman, he allegedly “engaged in unprotected sexual activity” with her.
According to a story published by CTV News on September 14th, 2022, three days after the alleged incident took place, Mitchell was a co-owner and company director at the resort at the time, but the resort switched operations to an interim manager after reports of “highly inappropriate behavior” from Mitchell came to light during their annual fishing tournament. That tournament, the Race for the Blue, was originally running from Sept. 9 to Sept. 17, but was cancelled on the 14th after the alleged behavior was reported.
The 1909 Kitchen and Bar, a pub attached to the resort, announced on its Instagram page at the time that it would be closed until September 18th. Ollie Happyness, a member of the band Downtown Mischief who were playing at the pub on the evening of the 11th, said the band had been asked to end their show due to a staff issue as well.
These allegations have not been tested or proven in court. Michell and the resort have not filed responses to the case.
Mitchell spent 16 seasons in the NHL, playing 907 regular season games and 89 playoff games with the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Florida Panthers.