Sports
Flames face criticism over Dillon Dube statement citing mental health after sexual assault charge revelation
The Calgary Flames are facing intense criticism online after it was revealed that forward Dillon Dube was one of the five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team charged with sexual assault — a revelation that came just days after the team announced his indefinite leave of absence citing mental health concerns.
Dube, 25, is one of four NHL players that have been charged with sexual assault by police in London, Ontario. Philadelphia Flyers netminder Carter Hart and Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils were also charged, according to statements from their lawyers.
Dillon Dube #29 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on January 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Flames defeated the Golden Knights 3-1. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“The London Police have charged Mr. Dube with sexual assault. He will plead not guilty and maintains his innocence,” attorneys representing Dube said in a statement, obtained by TSN’s Rick Westhead.
“He will defend the allegations in court. We ask that you respect the privacy of Mr. Dube and that of his family.”
The charges stem from a 2022 complaint in which a woman, identified only as “E.M.,” alleged that she was sexually assaulted by several members of the team in a hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala event held in 2018 to honor their win at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, The Globe and Mail reported last week.
The complaint alleged that the woman met one player at the bar and then was taken to a hotel room. The player then allegedly invited seven other people into the room to perform undisclosed sexual acts, intimidating her and preventing her from leaving.
4 NHL PLAYERS CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT STEMMING FROM ALLEGED 2018 WORLD JUNIORS INCIDENT
She also claimed the men directed her to take a shower and asked her to say on video that she was sober.
The five players charged with sexual assault, including former NHL player Alex Formenton, all took an indefinite leave of absence from their respected clubs over the past 10 days. But the Flames have faced intense scrutiny over their initial statement, which cited mental health concerns for Dube’s absence.
Dillon Dube #29 of the Calgary Flames warms up before the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on January 11, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“Dillon Dube has been granted an indefinite leave of absence from the team while he attends to his mental health. Dillon is under the care of health professionals, and we request that Dillon’s privacy is respected during this period.”
Initial comments from users on social media voiced their concern for the NHLer, but those quickly turned to anger following news of the sexual assault charge.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Flames clarified that they were not aware of the pending charges at the time the absence was granted.
“We have now become aware of the charge of sexual assault that has been laid against Dillon Dube. We take this matter very seriously. Because the matter is now pending legal proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time.”
The statement continued, “We had no knowledge of pending charges at the time Dillon’s request for a leave of absence was granted.”
Dillon Dube #29 of the Calgary Flames gets ready for a faceoff against the Florida Panthers during the third period at the Scotiabank Saddledome on December 18, 2023 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Leah Hennel/Getty Images)
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere shared a similar sentiment before the charges were made public, telling the media that he did not know if Hart was involved in the situation.
“We’re not aware of anything. There’s a lot of speculation. That’s all we know.”
Attorneys for all the players involved have denied any wrongdoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team may still make the NCAA Tournament, but Dick Vitale thinks this iconic program should be much better than their 19-12 record this season considering their whopping $22 million roster.
The legendary ESPN college basketball analyst didn’t hold back his feelings about the Wildcats as they played Florida during Saturday’s prime SEC matchup. After the Gators hit some free throws to extend their first-half lead to 26-19, Vitale started to lay into the Wildcats.
Head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats in a game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats on March 7, 2026, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. (Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire)
“I’m going to say this right here, I’ve done several Kentucky games, win or lose, $22 million this team [which has been reported] in terms of the NIL for their players,” he said, per Awful Announcing. “I think in $22 million, they could have put together a better roster than they did. I really do.”
The Wildcats ended up losing by a score of 84-77, and Vitale continued about Kentucky near the end of their 12th loss of the season.
“I’ll tell you one thing, you don’t want to walk out of here thinking you got a moral victory,” Vitale said, referencing a hard-fought game against the No. 5-ranked Florida team. “Moral victories don’t count at this level of basketball. And you hear some of the people, ‘We played them close. We played them tough.’
“The bottom line is you’re Kentucky. You’re Kentucky. And you’ve got to leave here with a win, especially at home. There are no moral victories. Come on. I don’t want to hear that.”
Collin Chandler and Jasper Johnson of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate in the first half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Arena on Jan. 24, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Wildcats were once the top program in the country under former Coach John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after being unable to make a long March Madness run in recent seasons, including a shocking first round upset to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats have been coached by Mark Pope since, and they made the Sweet 16 in last year’s tournament before losing to Tennessee.
Kentucky Jasper Johnson in action vs Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on Nov. 18, 2025. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated )
But this year, Kentucky is 10-8 in SEC play, and now face the No. 9 seed in the upcoming tournament this week. The winner of each conference earns a tournament berth, but the Wildcats know good seeding in the NCAA Tournament requires a strong run heading into Selection Sunday this upcoming weekend.
The Wildcats will start their SEC Tournament play on Wednesday against No. 16 LSU.
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The Chargers bolstered their efforts to protect quarterback Justin Herbert all while diversifying their offense by agreeing to a multiyear deal with veteran fullback Alec Ingold on Sunday, the team announced.
Ingold’s deal with the Chargers reportedly is for two years and $7.5 million.
Ingold will be no stranger to the Chargers’ plans on offense. He played the past four seasons in Miami under coach Mike McDaniel, the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator. Last year he caught eight passes for 52 yards and ran the ball twice in 17 games.
Ingold caught 47 passes for 372 yards and rushed for 34 yards in 20 carries in four seasons with the Dolphins. He also had two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.
Before his time in Miami, Ingold played three seasons with the Raiders.
The deal comes two days after the Chargers signed veteran center Tyler Biadasz to take over for the retiring Bradley Bozeman. They agreed to terms on a one-year deal with edge rusher Khalil Mack on Saturday.
With the free agency negotiation period set to begin Monday at 9 a.m. PDT, the Chargers remain in strong position to be significant players in the free-agent market. They rank among the top-five teams in salary cap space, per Overthecap.com.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and his fiancée, Sarah Jane Ramos, reportedly broke up with their wedding around the corner.
Prescott and Ramos’ relationship had been “rocky” in the weeks leading up to the breakup and things exploded between the two at their joint bachelor and bachelorette parties, TMZ Sports reported on Saturday.
Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos attend the Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta on Oct. 30, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Omar Vega/Getty Images for Farrah Fawcett Foundation)
Ramos shared pictures of her trip with her friends on Instagram on Friday.
“I truly believe you can get through anything in life as long as you have really great friends. I love these girls so much,” Ramos captioned the collage of snaps.
Prescott was not pictured in any of the 16 photos and videos posted to her social media account.
Sarah Jane Ramos and Dak Prescott pose for a photo before Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation Gala on May 17, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Faith Fight Finish Foundation)
Ramos also posted photos of her bridal shower back on Feb. 23. There were no photos of Prescott in the carousel either.
“The most intimate and beautiful bridal shower of my dreams,” she added on Instagram. “So grateful for my aunts who hosted it and my girlfriends and family that came to celebrate. I love you all so much and can’t wait to marry the love of my life with all of you by my side.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Prescott’s representative for comment.
Prescott posted a series of photos on his Instagram of Ramos and his family on July 20, 2025. There’s only a September advertisement posted on his account since.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos pose on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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The NFL star and Ramos announced they were engaged on Oct. 18, 2024. The couple have two children together.
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