Jake Virtanen, former Vancouver Canuck, charged with sex assault

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen has been charged with sexual assault, Vancouver police confirmed Thursday.

The BC Prosecution Service approved one count of sexual assault against Virtanen in relation to an incident that occurred in Vancouver on Sept. 26, 2017, when Virtanen was playing in the NHL, police said.

The Vancouver Canucks issued a statement Thursday acknowledging the charges.

“When the allegations first came to our attention, we immediately placed Jake Virtanen on leave. He is no longer a member of the organization,” the club said.

“We have been in contact with the Vancouver Police Department throughout their investigation and will continue to provide support as needed. Our organization is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment and will not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind. We will not be commenting further on this matter.”

An investigation was launched last May, after the now-23-year-old victim came forward.

In July, the Canucks said Virtanen had been placed on unconditional waivers for the purposes of a contract buyout.

Vancouver police said the 25-year-old is not in custody.

A civil lawsuit filed in Kelowna, B.C., the previous month alleged Virtanen took the woman to a hotel in West Vancouver in September 2017 and assaulted her as she repeatedly said no and pleaded with him to stop.

Virtanen denied the allegation in a response filed June 1, 2021, saying the pair had consensual sex, and denied that the woman “expressed any indication, verbal or physical, that she did not want to engage in physical activity.”

The allegations have not been tested in court.

Virtanen asked at the time for the lawsuit to be dismissed and for the court to award him special costs, due to the nature of the allegations.

-With files from the Canadian Press

by Global News