"Avangard" Legionnaire Recognized Among Top Foreign Athletes in Russia
In the realm of professional hockey, Michael McCloud, a player for Legion "Avangard," has earned recognition as one of the top foreign players in Russian clubs. This accolade comes after former KHL forward Evgeny Artyukhin voiced his approval.
According to Artyukhin's statement to Allhockey.ru, McCloud has been a standout player this season, excelling with "Barys" before becoming a key figure in "Avangard." The former forward also lauded the performances of Barron Frazier from "Lokomotiv," Scott Wilson, Joshua Livau, and Sheldon Rempal of "Salavat." Rempal was recently named the top scorer in the Gagarin Cup this season.
It's important to note that Michael McCloud has been embroiled in a sexual assault investigation. The allegations emerged from a Canadian woman who, in 2016, spent time with McCloud at a hotel, claiming she "had trouble saying no." The woman admitted to consuming 12 alcoholic drinks beforehand and appeared "really drunk." Five Canadian hockey players, including McCloud, are involved in the case and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. McCloud denies the allegations.
The trial is currently underway in an Ontario Superior Court, with a jury weighing the evidence and testimonies to reach a verdict. This trial involves Michael McCloud, as well as Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote, all of whom have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges. McLeod is also facing an additional charge of being a party to the offense.
Sources:[1] https://globalnews.ca/news/3636045/sexual-assault-charges-ONT-only-canada/[2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/world-junior-hockey-trial-opens-1.5570347[3] https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/01/world-junior-hockey-player-carter-hart-faces-sexual-assault-charges-in-london.html[4] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-world-junior-hockey-trial-opens-alleged-victim-takes-stand/[5] https://globalnews.ca/news/3636045/sexual-assault-charges-ONT-only-canada/
McCloud's ongoing trial for sexual assault charges, which involves five Canadian hockey players, including himself, has been a topic of discussion amidst his impressive performance in Russian sports, specifically professional hockey. Despite his key role in "Avangard" and earlier in "Barys," the spotlight on McCloud is not solely for his hockey skills, but also for the allegations made against him in 2016.
