Ex-Canuck Jake Virtanen charged with sexual assault in Vancouver case
Warning: This story contains a graphic description of an alleged sexual assault that readers may find upsetting.
A former Vancouver Canucks player has been charged with sexual assault in connection with an investigation in Vancouver, police say.
The charge against Jacob Reid Virtanen, better known to hockey fans as Jake Virtanen, is tied to an allegation from Sept. 26, 2017. It was approved by the B.C. Prosecution Service Thursday, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
He has denied the allegation, which has not been tested in court.
Virtanen, now 25, was playing in the National Hockey League at the time. The investigation began back in May when a young woman filed a police report.
Virtanen is not in custody, police said. No further details were provided by the department.
He was placed on leave by the Canucks in May and on waivers in July, after the allegation surfaced.
The team hoped for a buyout of the final year of his contract – at the time, the Canucks were on the hook for about one-third of his remaining $3 million salary.
In September it was announced that Virtanen was headed to Russia to play with Spartak Moscow in the KHL.
The right winger from B.C.'s Lower Mainland is also the subject of a lawsuit related to an assault allegation from Sept. 26, 2017.
CTV News reached out to police to confirm the incidents are the same, but was told that no further information could be provided due to a publication ban.
The B.C. Prosecution Service too said no further comment would be made as the case is before the courts.
In court documents, his accuser alleged the assault happened at a hotel. Virtanen responded to the suit and acknowledged having sex with the accuser, but said she consented "through her words and conduct."
A lawyer for Virtanen denied allegations that the professional athlete "used his body weight and superior strength" to render the accuser unconscious.
Both said they'd first met at the Calgary Stampede, and exchanged text messages for a couple of months before meeting up in Vancouver.
His accuser's statement of claim indicates that she was "a youth" at the time of the incident, and Virtanen was 20. In his response, Virtanen said he understood her to be 18 when they met.
The allegations in the lawsuit have also not been proven in court.
A statement from Virtanen's agent obtained by The Canadian Press said the former Canuck continues to deny the allegations.
"He has filed a response to the complainant's civil lawsuit. He has sent police a statement, denying the allegations. He took a polygraph examination and provided that report to the police," Kevin Epps wrote. "Mr. Virtanen continues to maintain his innocence and looks forward to defending himself at trial."
Virtanen was due in court Thursday for his first appearance, but that has been adjourned to Feb. 10, the BCPS said.
In a statement issued after the charge was made public, the Vancouver Canucks said the team has been in contact with police throughout the investigation, and will continue to provide support as needed.
"Our organization is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment and will not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind," the team said.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.