Former Vancouver Canucks player Ryan Kesler, aged 41, is facing two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Court documents reveal that Kesler appeared in Bloomfield Hills District Court via Zoom on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the two misdemeanour charges. The alleged incidents took place on January 1 in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
A bond of $50,000 US was imposed, requiring a 10% deposit, and Kesler was prohibited from leaving Michigan without court approval. Additionally, he must attend all scheduled hearings.
A probable-cause conference is scheduled for November 6, followed by a preliminary examination on November 13. Hailing from Livonia, Michigan, Kesler played for the Vancouver Canucks from 2003 to 2014, later moving to the Anaheim Ducks until his retirement in 2019. He also represented the United States in the 2010 and 2014 Olympic teams.
Kesler, a former Canucks standout, received the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2011 for being the NHL’s top defensive forward and was part of Vancouver’s journey to the Stanley Cup final that same year.