Given the timing and unknown legal element of Dube's request for 'mental health' leave, it's OK to believe the Calgary Flames didn't know the truth around sexual assault charge
Someone writing about the notion of innocence until guilt is proven is prone to major internet backlash these days. Especially when the crime in contention is sexual assault. This is certainly true of Calgary Flames player Dillon Dube, who has been asked to surrender to London police prior to a Feb. 5 press conference.
Dube will be charged along with four other members of Canada’s 2018 world juniors team he captained. It may take a while, but the outcome will play out in court, and he’ll be judged and sentenced accordingly. Whatever the outcome, he’s already been convicted in the court of public opinion, and his NHL career is likely over.
But the idea of innocence until proven guilty applies to the Calgary Flames organization here, too.
They’ve been roasted for days for their initial announcement around Dube’s leave of absence. It came on Jan. 21, right after the return of defenceman Oliver Kylington from about 20 months away from the team to take care of his mental health. The Dube statement also cited his mental health as the reason for his sudden departure.
When Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart — a 2018 WJC teammate — followed suit with a personal leave two days later, people started making the connection.
If the Calgary Flames knew Dube’s request was linked to the charges and the request for him to turn himself into police, it was a shameful spin — diminishing all the incredible work done by the franchise during Kylington’s absence.
But they deserve the benefit of the doubt here. Yes, the Flames have known for years that Dube could ultimately find himself in this position. Multiple investigations and civil processes have already taken place. However, they are not in a position to make assumptions and have a responsibility to tend to the health of their players.
The grey line here is knowing the pressures that come with everything from a lack of performance on the ice to the internet attacks regarding a legal situation that extends over many years without resolution. This is undoubtedly taking a toll on Dube’s mental health — although he never should have cited that as the reason for his requested leave knowing what was to come on the legal front.
That’s on Dube and his representation. Not the Calgary Flames.
The Flames put out a statement on Wednesday, claiming they did not know these charges were pending.
"We have now become aware of the charge of sexual assault that has been laid against Dillon Dube. We take this matter very seriously. Because the matter is now pending legal proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time,” the statement read.
“We had no knowledge of pending charges at the time Dillon’s request for a leave of absence was granted."
Many won’t accept this, either believing it’s false, or that they should have known on some level this was related to that.
And maybe if Dube wasn’t the first to take leave, more would agree.
But unless proven otherwise, especially given their track record of supporting Kylington through his battles with mental health and helping to blaze a path for acceptance of this issue in the NHL, the first instinct should be to believe them.
The people who have spent decades communicating to the media and community for this franchise have earned that trust.