Former NHL Star Ryan Kesler Faces Shocking Criminal Charges, Maintains Innocence
Ryan Kesler, once a fierce competitor on NHL ice, now finds himself navigating an entirely different kind of battle. The retired center—known for his grit with the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks—has been hit with two misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct charges stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred earlier this year. At 41, Kesler pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, setting the stage for what’s shaping up to be a complicated legal saga. With bond posted and a probable cause hearing looming in November, the former Olympic athlete and Michigan native faces serious allegations he vehemently denies, asserting his innocence through his legal team. As this story unfolds, it taps into a stark contrast between Kesler’s storied sports career and the gravity of these new developments.
Kesler, 41, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday. Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images
Ryan Kesler, a retired NHL center, has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, according to court records.
Kesler, 41, was arraigned Monday in a Bloomfield Hills, Mich., courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were filed against him on Oct. 23 over events on Jan. 1, according to court records. His next court appearance, a probable cause conference, is scheduled for Nov. 6.
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Police in Orchard Lake, Mich., confirmed Kesler’s arraignment and said he was booked and posted $50,000 bond. They released no further details.
“Ryan emphatically denies the allegations and is completely innocent of the charges. The charges are baseless and he is prepared to fight them vigorously in court,” his attorney Robert Morad told The Athletic when reached by phone Monday evening. “As the legal process begins, we ask for respect for his privacy and for the integrity of the judicial system. We are confident, when all the facts and circumstances are presented, that he will be fully exonerated.”
Kesler, a native of Livonia, Mich., played for two NHL teams — the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks — from 2003-19 and was a member of the 2010 and 2014 U.S. Olympic teams.
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