Elmo needs a hug

The GIST: The five players at the center of an investigation into sexual assault allegations against members of Canada’s gold medal–winning 2018 World Juniors team have been revealed.

• TSN reported yesterday that NHLers Carter Hart (Philadelphia Flyers), Michael McLeod (New Jersey Devils), Dillon Dube (Calgary Flames), and Cal Foote (New Jersey Devils) have been directed to surrender to police, news that comes after former NHLer Alex Formenton turned himself in on Sunday.

The context: The five players, who took eyebrow-raising leaves of absence from their respective teams last week, are accused of sexually assaulting a woman following a June 2018 gala celebrating their World Juniors title.

• An initial police investigation yielded no accountability and was closed in 2019, but it was later reopened in 2022 after the woman filed a $3.5M lawsuit against Hockey Canada.

• That suit was settled out of court but prompted further reporting revealing that Hockey Canada had not one, not two, but three slush funds for sexual assault settlements. Disgusting.

What’s next: London (Ontario) police will hold a press conference next Monday to provide updates in the ongoing case and the players are expected to turn themselves in before then.

• The major news also comes with this weekend’s NHL All-Star festivities looming and still no word from the league on their ongoing investigation into the allegations. Tick tock.

The GIST: Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skater Kamila Valieva was handed a four-year ban for doping on Monday, resulting in a reallocation of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics medals.

The background: As discussed on yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, this is the latest development in the bombshell doping scandal that rocked those Games. In 2022, Valieva arrived in Beijing with gold medal expectations, in part because she could land the extremely difficult quadruple jump.

• But, during the Games, Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance that increases blood flow and improves endurance. Although she was still permitted to compete in the team event, the podium ceremony was canceled, so no medals were handed out.

The impact: Fast forward to today: Valieva’s ban retroactively disqualifies her from all events at the Beijing Games, including the team event in which the ROC placed first. With Valieva’s contribution taken away from her team’s total score, the Americans moved into first place, officially winning the gold medal, with Japan collecting the silver.

• But even with the Valieva deduction, the ROC still beat the Canadians by one point and walked away with the bronze. Skate Canada is considering “all options to appeal.”

• And beyond the hardware, Valieva’s doping controversy sparked a lasting change in senior figure skating, prompting an increase in the minimum age to compete at the Games to 17 years old. Valieva was just 15 at the Beijing Games, a child failed by her team on the world stage.

Looking ahead: Valieva’s ban is backdated to the day she submitted the tainted sample, so her expulsion from the sport ends on December 25th, 2025 — just two months before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. However, the 17-year-old is no longer skating like the prodigy she was and may not be talented enough to make that team.

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🏀 NBA: Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — Sportsnet ONE

• Kitchener’s Jamal Murray and his Nuggets will travel to face Toronto’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in what should be a high-caliber matchup between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.

• And in more Canadian NBA news, Scottie Barnes (rocking his top-selling NBA jersey) led the Raptors to a 118–107 win over the Chicago Bulls last night.

⛳ PGA: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am — Tomorrow through Sunday — Golf Channel

• The iconic tournament is a Tour Signature Event for the first time ever, enticing big names like Americans Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa to make their first appearance at the Crosby Clambake, alongside a star-studded lineup of non-golf athletes.

🏒⭐ PWHL: 3-on-3 Showcase — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — Sportsnet

• The NHL All-Star festivities kick off from Toronto with a 20-minute game featuring the PWHL’s best divided into two teams named after league advisory board members, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss. Get your game on, go play.