Former Vancouver Canucks player Ryan Kesler, aged 41, is facing two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. The charges were brought against him in Bloomfield Hills District Court, where he appeared via Zoom and entered not guilty pleas to the misdemeanor charges. The alleged incidents took place on January 1 in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
Kesler’s bond was set at $50,000 US with a 10% deposit requirement, and he was instructed not to leave Michigan without court authorization. Additionally, he is mandated to attend all scheduled court 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, after which he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he continued his career until retiring in 2019. He represented the United States in the 2010 and 2014 Olympic teams. Kesler, a former Canucks standout, earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2011 for being the NHL’s top defensive forward and was instrumental in Vancouver’s journey to the Stanley Cup final that year.
