Canucks' Jake Virtanen accused in lawsuit of sexual assault

Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen is being sued for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in 2017.

The civil lawsuit was filed in Kelowna, B.C., last week, according to The Canadian Press. It says Virtanen took the woman to a Vancouver hotel and assaulted her despite her repeated pleas for him to stop.

Nothing has yet been filed on the defense's behalf. Additionally, the allegations haven't yet been heard in court.

The lawsuit says the woman endured both physical and emotional damages.

The Canucks placed the winger on leave May 1, calling the allegations "concerning" and stating the club had sought external assistance to conduct an independent investigation.

Virtanen has spent his entire six-year career with Vancouver.

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