The Tampa Bay Lightning have suspended former Penguins defenseman Ian Cole as the NHL and the franchise investigate allegations of sexual assault by Cole.
A statement issued by the Lightning on Sunday night announced Cole’s status.
“The Tampa Bay Lightning is aware of the allegations against player Ian Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation. Our organization takes these allegations very seriously. 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.”
On Friday afternoon, a graphic description alleging Cole had sexually assaulted multiple underage girls was posted to a Twitter account that was created in September. The only post from this account is the description of the alleged assaults.
While the description went into great detail about the alleged assaults, other information such as dates or locations was absent.
Through his agent, Kevin Magnuson, Cole issued a statement to several national outlets in the United States and Canada denying the allegations.
“I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously,” Cole said in the statement. “I completely deny these allegations and will fully cooperate with the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning, their officials and legal departments in the forthcoming investigation. I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded. I will have no further comment until the NHL’s investigation concludes.”
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Cole will be suspended with pay.
Cole, now 33, spent parts of four seasons with the Penguins during the 2010s and was a member of the franchise’s Stanley Cup championship teams in 2016 and 2017.
He has also played for the St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes.
This past offseason, Cole joined the Lightning as a free agent signing.
The Penguins are scheduled to host the Lightning at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.
