Dan Robson

Toronto

Senior Enterprise Writer at The Athletic

senior enterprise writer, The Athletic / author /RTA sport media instructor [email protected]

Articles

Amid Canada-U.S. tension, will Canadians cheer for Oilers in Stanley Cup Final?

2 days ago | nytimes.com | Dan Robson

Connor McDavid's locker room meltdown during the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 exposed an anger and frustration that many NHL fans of Canadian teams might have found familiar. The best player of a generation saw his team's chance to win a Stanley Cup slipping away, and in a moment caught by cameras, he unleashed a high-pitched, profanity-brimmed roar:"Right f-ing now. Right f-ing now!" McDavid shouted, after the Edmonton Oilers lost Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. "That's not f-ing good enough.
With testimony concluded, Hockey Canada sexual assault trial nears completion

4 days ago | nytimes.com | Katie Strang |Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont. - Both the Crown and the defense have finished presenting evidence in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. The announcement, made during Monday's proceedings in Ontario Superior Court, signal that the trial is nearing its completion. Court will resume June 9, at which point both the Crown and each defense team will make oral "submissions" to Justice Maria Carroccia as the final presentations of their respective cases.
Crown lawyer presses Carter Hart on players' efforts 'keep her in the room'

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Katie Strang |Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont.
Carter Hart takes the stand in Hockey Canada trial after Crown concludes its case

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Katie Strang |Kamila Hinkson |Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont. - Carter Hart, one of five players charged in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, took the stand Thursday morning as the first witness for the defense after the prosecution told Justice Maria Carroccia that the Crown has called all of its witnesses and has concluded its case.
Potential of a surprise Crown witness sparks courtroom spat at Hockey Canada trial

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Katie Strang |Kamila Hinkson |Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont. - Prosecutors have introduced the possibility of a surprise player witness in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. In an animated exchange at the end of Wednesday's proceedings, Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham told Justice Maria Carroccia that the Crown was "nearing the end" of its case but that there were some "late-breaking events" about an additional witness who may be called, prompting defense attorney Megan Savard to object to the timing. "Sorry, Your Honor," Savard said.
Brett Howden, defense attorney clash during pointed cross-examination

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Katie Strang |Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont. - During cross-examination on Tuesday, Brett Howden was accused by the defense of minimizing his interactions with the complainant in the hours before the alleged incident at the center of the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial and lying about a phone call he said he had with a teammate about the matter.
Judge in Hockey Canada case delivers another blow to critical piece of evidence for Crown

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Katie Strang |Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont. - Justice Maria Carroccia ruled Monday morning that a key piece of evidence in the Crown's case will not be admissible in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. It was the second failed attempt to have the text included.
Judge rules against Crown's bid to have Brett Howden's text admitted

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dan Robson

A text message sent by Brett Howden to a teammate describing Dillion Dubé smacking the complainant in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial is not admissible as evidence, the judge in the high-profile case ruled on Friday. Justice Maria Carroccia denied the Crown's request to have admitted as evidence a text sent by Howden to Taylor Raddysh on June 26, 2018, in which he described relief having left a London, Ont., hotel room after a woman was slapped on the buttocks by Dubé.
Judge weighs text evidence after Brett Howden's emotional testimony

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dan Robson

LONDON, Ont. - The judge in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial will decide whether text messages Brett Howden sent to a teammate describing Dillion Dubé smacking the complainant's buttocks are admissible as evidence. "Dude, I'm so happy I left when all that sh- went down. Ha, ha," Howden wrote to Taylor Raddysh, also adding: "Man, when I was leaving, Duber was smacking this girl's ass so hard.
Hockey Canada trial judge limits Crown's efforts to press Brett Howden

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dan Robson |Kamila Hinkson |Katie Strang

LONDON, Ont. - After a day of arguing over Brett Howden's truthfulness, the judge in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial said she did not believe he feigned a lack of memory during his testimony, as prosecutors alleged. But Justice Maria Carroccia did agree there were some inconsistencies that could be questioned.