Retired NHL player Ryan Kesler is speaking out after he was accused of sexual assault in Michigan.
“Ryan emphatically denies the allegations and is completely innocent of the charges. The allegations are false, and he is prepared to fight them vigorously in court,” Kesler’s attorney Robert Morad told Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 28. “As the case begins, we ask that you respect his privacy and that you allow the legal process to work. Just like all citizens accused of a crime, he is presumed to be innocent. We are confident that when all of the facts and circumstances are presented that he will be fully exonerated.”
The former Vancouver Canucks player, 41, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, according to court records viewed by The Atlantic.
Kesler was arraigned on Monday, October 27, in a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. His next court appearance — expected to be a probable cause conference — is scheduled for Thursday, November 6.
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According to The Athletic, Kesler’s charges stem from an alleged incident reported to the Orchard Lake Police Department on January 2. Investigators have yet to release details regarding the allegations. Kesler was booked and posted a $50,000 bond.
Us has reached out to the Orchard Lake Police Department for comment.
Kesler had a long career in the NHL, where he played for the Vancouver Canucks before moving to the Anaheim Ducks in California.
During a recent interview, Kesler said he wishes he could have retired as a member of the Canucks.
CALGARY, AB – FEBRUARY 22: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Anaheim Ducks warms up before an NHL game against the Calgary Flames on February 22, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Kesler Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images
“Now that I’m retired and looking back on it, I left to win a Cup,” Kesler said in November 2024. “I can say I honestly regret that now.”
The athlete also represented Team USA twice in the Winter Olympics. He won a silver medal at the 2010 games in Vancouver, and finished fourth at the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia.
“Everything just keeps getting better for me,” he told The Canadian Press after his stint at the Olympics. “I’m very excited.”
Kesler was later asked to be the cover athlete and spokesman for the popular video game, NHL 2K11.
“Having the opportunity to participate in the Olympics and play in front of my home crowd was one of the best experiences of my life,” he said after the 2010 Winter Olympics. “To now be chosen as the next cover athlete for NHL 2K11 is another dream come true.”
Despite his many accomplishments, Kesler is already dealing with the fallout of the sexual assault allegations.
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The Michigan Amateur Hockey Association, the sport’s governing body in the state, has suspended Kesler from all MAHA and USA Hockey activities, MAHA president Tom Berry told The Athletic.
Kesler is currently in his third season as a head coach with the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, a Detroit-area youth program.
A spokesperson for Little Caesars Hockey confirmed Kesler “has been removed from his position while this matter is addressed by the judicial system” and that the allegation was not connected to the organization.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
