The Tampa Bay Lightning suspended defenseman Ian Cole on Sunday night pending an investigation into allegations made on social media that he sexually abused a woman when she was a minor.
In a statement, the Lightning said they are aware of the allegations against Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation. «Our organization takes these allegations very seriously,» the team's statement read. «While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation.
No members of the organization, including players, will comment further at this time.» The allegations against Cole were made in a statement posted to Twitter on Friday by an anonymous user.
The person writes that Cole groomed her over four years «starting when I was a minor in high school» and notes that Cole was «well aware of my age» at the time of the alleged sexual relationship.