It’s that time again when we take a look at what’s been happening in hockey’s business and legal world. Once a week we cover the big and not so big stories in this arena. We also include a featured story of the period. Let’s take a look at what has been happening this period.
Hockey’s Business and Legal News
2018 WJC Sexual Assault Case Goes to Jury
The five members of the Canadian WJC team charged with sexual assault requested a trial by jury. The court has granted this request. This means instead of a judge making the final decision, a jury of “their peers” will decide. They will be tried to together, but the trial will likely not take place until a few months down the road.
The former junior hockey players who have been charged with sexual assault have asked for – and been granted – a trial by jury. https://t.co/V5E5L7Pxtd
— Robyn Doolittle (@robyndoolittle) February 28, 2024
PNC Arena Renovation Responsibilities Given to Design Firm Gensler
In a previous hockey’s business and legal updates, we discussed that the Carolina Hurricanes ownership group was deeply involved in working with the town of Raleigh to update PNC Arena and completely develop the surrounding area into an entertainment district. This is a multi-billion dollar project in total. The Centennial Authority, the group who owns PNC Arena, hired Design firm Gensler to handle the renovations to PNC Arena. They also hired local architecture firm LS3P.
The Centennial Authority’s building and construction committee has voted to bring in Gensler/LS3P to be the new design team to pick up the PNC Arena renovation and enhancement project.
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) February 29, 2024
Church of Latter-day Saints Supports NHL Team in Utah
The Church of Latter-day Saints has voiced its support of legislation that would bring an NHL team to Salt Lake City, Utah. The Church is one of the largest property owners in Salt Lake City. While many other cities like Atlanta are pushing for NHL expansion teams, Salt Lake City, and specifically Smith Entertainment Group, getting the Church’s support could go a long way in helping pave the way for a team. The legislation making its way through the Utah legislature would provide a special “sports and entertainment district” in Salt Lake City which would include an NHL arena.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of the largest property owners in Salt Lake City, has voiced its support of legislation that would help bring an NHL team to the Utah capital: https://t.co/ZLrXVlpyHt
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) March 1, 2024
Hockey’s Business and Legal Updates Featured Story: Junior Hockey Billet Family Member Charged with Sexual Exploitation
In this week’s hockey’s business and legal updates featured story, a former billet family parent of a Peterborough Petes player has been charged with sexual exploitation, making sexually explicit material available to a person under 18 years of age, and making obscene matter. These alleged events happened during February and March of 2023 when the billet parent was in a place of trust and authority over the hockey player. The player was under 18 at the time. Sexual exploitation, making sexually explicit material available to a minor, and making obscene matter are all hybrid offences meaning a government attorney will have the discretion to choose whether to proceed with the charges summarily or as indictable offences. Summary offences are less serious than indictable ones. Note that these are criminal charges meaning the alleged perpetrator is charged by the government and not the victim.
A former Peterborough Petes billet parent was arrested last week and has been charged with sexual exploitation, making sexually explicit material available to a person under 18, and making obscene matter, according to court records.
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) February 28, 2024
Story from @rwesthead: https://t.co/PUHaJUfAbG
Post image attribution: By Jfvoll, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
