10:28 PM ET
Emily KaplanESPN
- Emily Kaplan is ESPN's nationalist NHL reporter.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole was interviewed astatine the NHL bureau successful New York for astir an hr connected Wednesday day arsenic portion of the league's probe into intersexual misconduct allegations against him, sources told ESPN.
At the clip of the interview, the idiosyncratic who posted a lengthy connection connected Twitter saying Cole sexually abused and groomed her arsenic a insignificant had not travel guardant -- and the league is incapable to place the creator of the relationship without subpoenaing Twitter oregon obtaining a tribunal order, sources said.
Cole, who signed with the Lightning arsenic a escaped cause this offseason, has been suspended by the squad with wage "pending the results of an investigation" and missed the team's play opener connected Tuesday. Cole has denied the allegations and said successful a connection that helium looks guardant to clearing his name.
It is unclear what the adjacent steps volition be. Tampa Bay's adjacent crippled is Friday successful Columbus.
If Cole remains retired of the lineup for an extended play without the league uncovering grounds to corroborate the allegations, the NHL Players' Association would record a grievance, sources said.
The interrogation with Cole was conducted by Jared Maples, the NHL's main of security. Maples antecedently served arsenic the manager of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
Cole, 33, is entering his 13th play successful the league. The allegations against Cole were made connected Friday by a Twitter idiosyncratic who called herself Emily Smith. In a post, Smith wrote that Cole sexually abused and groomed her for 4 years, opening erstwhile she was successful precocious school.
"It has taken maine years to find the courageousness to travel guardant and I person decided to talk retired anonymously due to the fact that sadly I consciousness that this is the lone mode I tin beryllium afloat transparent without harassment and retaliation," she wrote.
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