Former NHL center from Michigan is headed to trial.
According to The Athletic, Ryan Kesler of Livonia will face two misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree.
Kesler is accused of making contact sexually with a 16-year-old girl “through force or coercion and/or (had) reason to know the victim was physically helpless,” according to a complaint acquired by USA Today.
He has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations.
“Ryan is innocent and has done nothing wrong,” Kesler’s attorneys Robert Morad and Neil Rockind said in a statement. “…Ryan has been unwavering from day one because he’s telling the truth. He’s prepared to see this through and is confident his name will be fully cleared.”
According to the Athletic, the now 17-year-old victim alleges she fell asleep on a couch beside Kesler at a New Year’s Eve party at his home. When she woke up, Kesler’s foot was allegedly rubbing against her crotch.
The alleged victim, now 17 year old, is a female friend of Kelser’s daughter. She spent two hours on the stand this week, according to USA Today.
Kesler, who played for some of Michigan’s elite youth programs like Compuware, Honeybaked and Little Caesars, played 15 seasons in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks.
He appeared in 1,001 NHL games and finished his career with 258 goals and 573 points.
He also represented the United States in the Winter Olympics twice but hasn’t played in the NHL since 2019.