Lightning's Ian Cole suspended amid sexual assault investigation

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The Tampa Bay Lightning suspended defenseman Ian Cole indefinitely Sunday after a woman said he sexually assaulted her when she was a minor and groomed her over a four-year period.

"The Tampa Bay Lightning is aware of the allegations against player Ian Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation," the team said in a statement.

"Our organization takes these allegations very seriously. While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation. No members of the organization, including players, will comment further at this time."

On Friday, a Twitter user with the name Emily Smith posted a statement saying Cole sexually abused her, including sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. She said she later discovered that Cole had slept with another minor at her former high school. Smith added that one of Cole's former NHL teammates told her that the defenseman had bragged about the assault to his teammates.

Cole released a statement via his agent later Sunday evening.

"I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously," the statement reads. "I completely deny these allegations and will fully cooperate with the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning, their officials and legal departments in the forthcoming investigation.

"I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded. I will have no further comment until the NHL's investigation concludes."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said earlier Sunday that the league is aware of the allegations and is looking into them, according to The Athletic's Katie Strang.

Cole, 33, is entering his 13th NHL season with his seventh organization.

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