Content warning: This story contains allegations of sexual assault.
LONDON, Ont. — NHL player Taylor Raddysh testified Wednesday that he had limited memory of the events that transpired at the Delta Armouries hotel on the night of the alleged incident. This incident is central to the trial of five former NHL players facing sexual assault charges.
Raddysh provided his testimony via video conference from the Washington Capitals` team facility in Arlington, Virginia.
Assistant Crown Attorney Meaghan Cunningham questioned Raddysh regarding text messages exchanged in a group chat among 18 players from the 2018 Canadian World Junior team, initiated by Michael McLeod. Raddysh confirmed receiving these messages and taking screenshots. He specifically recalled a message sent on June 19, 2018, at 2:10 a.m., asking, “Who wants to be in a 3 way quick.” A reply sent from a device associated with Carter Hart at 2:19 a.m. stated, “I’m in.”
However, when pressed for specific details about what he observed and heard that night, nearly seven years prior – particularly given his hotel room was adjacent to where the alleged incident occurred – Raddysh struggled to recall much, even after reviewing his previous statements from a Hockey Canada investigation. He stated he saw McLeod, Boris Katchouk, and a woman when he briefly visited the room, describing his time there as “a very short time.”
Earlier in the trial, the jury was shown videos from the complainant`s phone. The complainant is identified in court documents only as “E.M.” due to a publication ban. These videos were recorded after the alleged incident.
One video presented to the court, timestamped 3:25 a.m., shows E.M., who is dressed, responding “Yeah, I’m OK” to a male voice asking, “You’re OK with this, right? You’re OK with this?”
Another video, timestamped 4:26 a.m., depicts E.M. seemingly covered only by a towel. Addressing the camera, she says, “This was all consensual. I enjoyed it. Are you filming this?” She then adds, “You are so paranoid. I’m so sober — that’s why I can’t do this right now.”
Both of these videos were taken from McLeod`s phone.
These videos were presented during the testimony of Det. Tiffany Waque, one of the London Police Service officers who investigated the incident. The alleged incident occurred on June 19, 2018, following a Hockey Canada celebration.
The court also viewed videos from the evening of June 18, 2018, at Jack`s bar. These included footage of players dancing with E.M. on a crowded dance floor, as well as E.M. using an ATM, ordering drinks at the bar, and later, leaving the Delta Armouries hotel and seemingly getting a ride. An Uber receipt presented as evidence indicated she traveled to a redacted address at 5:08 a.m.
McLeod, aged 27, faces two counts of sexual assault, one of which relates to aiding in the offense. Dillon Dube, 26, Cal Foote, 26, Alex Formenton, 25, and Hart, 26, are each charged with one count of sexual assault. All five players have entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them.
Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue on Thursday.
