Ian Cole

2022 - 10 - 9

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Detroit Free Press"

Michigan native, NHL player Ian Cole accused of sexual abuse ... (Detroit Free Press)

A Twitter user posted a message on Friday, accusing NHL veteran Ian Cole, a native of Ann Arbor, began assaulting her when she was in high school.

He has played for seven teams since then and signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer. Cole, 33, played for the USNTDP, then headquartered in Ann Arbor, from 2005-07 and at Notre Dame from 2007-10. The tweet is the only one by the account, which was created in September.

Lightning suspend Ian Cole pending investigation into sexual abuse ... (Tampa Bay Times)

The veteran defenseman has been accused of a sexual relationship with a minor and grooming her over a four-year span.

He was a member of the Pittsburgh team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. A sexual assault case involving members of the 2003 world junior team came to light in July. He figured to play a major role on the blue line as a left-shot defenseman and a penalty killer. “Ian felt emboldened to emotionally and sexually abuse me because the NHL fosters a culture of misogyny,” the accuser said in her tweet. The accuser said that one of Cole’s former NHL teammates told her how Cole bragged to his teammates about about having sex with her the night they met, sharing details that only she and Cole would have known. While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation.

Tampa Bay Lightning suspend Ian Cole pending investigation into ... (ESPN)

The Lightning suspended defenseman Ian Cole pending an investigation into allegations made on social media that he sexually abused a woman when she was a ...

The allegations against Cole were made in a statement posted to Twitter on Friday by an anonymous user. "I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously,'' Cole said. "While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation.

Tampa Bay Lightning suspend Ian Cole while he's investigated over ... (USA TODAY)

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they are suspending defenseman Ian Cole while he's being investigated about allegations of sexual abuse.

While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation." "The Tampa Bay Lightning is aware of the allegations against player Ian Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation," the Lightning said in a statement. She didn't say when or where the alleged incidents took place, but said the grooming lasted over a four-year period.

Tampa Bay Lightning suspend Ian Cole pending investigation into ... (CNN)

The NHL confirmed to CNN that the league is looking into the allegations, which were made by an anonymous Twitter account. Ian Cole's agent issued a ...

Cole, 33, has played in the NHL for 13 seasons after making his debut in 2010 with the St. He said he looks forward to clearing his name from the “unfounded” allegations. “Our organization takes these allegations very seriously,” the Lightning said in a statement.

Tampa Bay Lightning suspend Ian Cole in light of sexual assault ... (The Athletic)

Content warning: This story contains details about alleged sexual assault. The content may be difficult to read and emotionally upsetting.

“My first sexual encounter with Ian was when I was a minor in high school. The woman went on to write that Cole would make derogatory comments about her and manipulate her through his messaging. “I was groomed by Ian Cole for four years, starting when I was a minor in high school,” the post read.