The New Jersey Devils’ 24-year-old defenseman Cal Foote is the subject of mystery and rumors. Has he been arrested? Discover the specifics of his purported leave of absence and possible controversy.
Foote, a US native born in Colorado in 1998, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
He continued to play for the Lightning for a few seasons, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2021.
Foote, a two-way defenceman with skill, has had an outstanding NHL career thus far.
But now, he’s at the center of a big controversy after a supposed sexual assault involving players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior squad, which included Foote.
Foote’s character has been under intense examination as a result, and he has taken a leave of absence from the Devils.
Cal Foote: Is He Arrested?
Cal Foote has not yet been taken into custody about the alleged sexual assault.
A 2018 investigation by London police into an incident involving a lady and Canadian World Junior team members resulted in no charges being brought at the time.
In 2022, the case was reopened due to allegations that certain players had physically abused and coerced the woman into performing certain things.
Foote was a member of that squad in 2018, although he hasn’t been formally identified as one of the players involved.
London police applied in July 2022 to conduct additional investigations and speak with players they suspect were involved in the alleged attack.
Foote and four other members of the team were forced to take indefinite leaves of absence from their NHL clubs as a result.
On October 20, 2022, Foote’s leave from the New Jersey Devils officially began.
Even while this is suggestive, he has not yet been placed under arrest or had any accusations brought against him.
Foote is not yet charged with a crime; at least not until more solid proof surfaces.
Cal Foote’s Absence from Work
Cal Foote was granted a leave of absence from the New Jersey Devils starting on October 20, 2022, due to his status as one of the players from the 2018 Canadian World Junior team under investigation.
This happened soon after London police declared they would be renewing their investigation into claims made in 2018 that one of the team members had sexually assaulted a woman.
Three other members of that team, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod, have also taken leaves of absence in addition to Foote.
The Devils did not provide a possible return date for Foote, instead stating that his vacation would be extended.
The team declared that they take these accusations seriously and agree with the league’s decision.
Foote is currently not allowed to play professional hockey until the investigation is completed.
Even though Foote is not presently facing any criminal charges, the Devils and the NHL have decided to put a hold on his season while the legal matter is being handled.
Depending on how long it lasts and what information surfaces, this indefinite vacation might seriously hinder Foote’s career as a developing young player.
The Cal Foote Scandal
Due to his purported involvement in the events in the issue, Cal Foote is currently under close examination, which has created a dark scandal surrounding him.
Even though Foote has not been charged in public and will always maintain his innocence until found guilty, his reputation may suffer greatly if he is even remotely connected to such an occurrence.
This presents a significant off-ice hurdle for Foote, who is seeking to make a name for himself as an elite NHL defenseman.
The issue itself, which involves a World Junior team from Canada and claims of sexual assault, has shocked the hockey community, particularly in Canada.
The problem has been exacerbated by the fact that Hockey Canada handled it badly, discreetly settled it in 2018, and then covered it up.
Regarding his involvement and knowledge of what transpired, Foote will probably continue to face difficult questions as additional information from the recently reopened police inquiry becomes available.
In the future, Foote will have to assist law enforcement to clean his name or accept responsibility for any part he may have played.
Either way, his reputation and professional path have been damaged by this affair.
In the end, how he reacts to and grows from this experience will determine his character.
Also Read, Notyourgothgirlfriend, Medukarabu, and Lili Sixx.
