Former Vancouver Canucks player Ryan Kesler, aged 41, has been formally charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Court documents reveal that Kesler appeared in Bloomfield Hills District Court via Zoom on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. The alleged incidents took place on January 1 in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
A bond of $50,000 US, with a requirement of a 10% deposit, has been set for Kesler. Additionally, he has been instructed not to leave Michigan without prior court authorization and is obligated to attend all scheduled hearings.
A probable-cause conference is scheduled for November 6, followed by a preliminary examination on November 13. Kesler, a native of Livonia, Michigan, played for the Vancouver Canucks from 2003 to 2014 before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he eventually retired in 2019. He also represented the United States in the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games.
During his time with the Vancouver Canucks, Kesler was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2011 for being the NHL’s top defensive forward and was part of the team’s journey to the Stanley Cup final in the same year.