Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
The Montreal Canadiens have recalled defenceman Logan Mailloux from the AHL’s Laval Rocket, the team announced Monday.
The Canadiens play their regular-season finale on Tuesday when they host the Detroit Red Wings.
The Canadiens’ selection of Mailloux in the first round (31st overall) of the NHL Draft in 2021 received backlash because he had been convicted in Sweden in 2020 for sharing, without consent, a photo of a woman performing a sex act.
Prior to being chosen, Mailloux had said he didn’t deserve the honour or privilege of being an NHL draft pick and removed himself from the draft. His comments came after news emerged that — while playing in Sweden in late 2020 — he secretly photographed an 18-year-old woman who was engaged in a sexual act with him, and then shared the image with his teammates without her consent. Mailloux was charged under Swedish law with defamation and offensive photography, and fined the equivalent to $1,650.
Mailloux had his eligibility to play in the NHL restored on Aug. 23 of last year.
In a statement Tuesday, the NHL reconfirmed Mailloux is eligible to play.
“We have met with Logan Mailloux multiple times over the course of the last eight to 10 months,” the statement reads. “We are comfortable that he recognizes the gravity of his prior conduct and is committed to making better and more responsible decisions in the future.”
In 70 AHL games this season, Mailloux had 14 goals and 47 points to rank among the league leaders in defence scoring.
