Flyers GM Daniel Briere addresses Carter Hart speculation amid leave of absence

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Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere addressed the media hours after a report revealed that five members of Hockey Canada’s 2018 gold medal World Juniors team were told to surrender to police in Ontario to face sexual assault charges connected to a 2018 incident. 

His comments also followed Carter Hart’s indefinite leave of absence, which the team announced a day earlier. 

Carter Hart of the Flyers warms up for the Pittsburgh Penguins game at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

"We are aware of this morning's press reports on the very serious matter. We will respond appropriately when the outcomes of the investigations are made public," Briere said to open Wednesday’s press conference. 

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"The NHL has been very clear that teams should refer all investigation-related questions to them. In the meantime, members of the organization, including Flyers players, will not be commenting further. That’s all we can say at the moment, unfortunately." 

The five players, who have not been identified, are connected to 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 Wednesday. 

The Canadian flag is rolled out by spectators before Canada and Sweden compete in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 31, 2022, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Hart, who was a