Bakersfield Condors fire head athletic trainer after sexual offence charges
The Bakersfield Condors, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, have fired head athletic trainer Chad Drown after he was charged with contacting a minor to commit a sexual offence.
“Earlier today, we became aware that Bakersfield Condors head athletic trainer, Chad Drown, had been charged with very serious felony offences related to (allegedly) contacting a minor to commit a sexual offense in the State of California,” the Condors said in a statement.
“We are shocked and dismayed by the news and Mr. Drown has been relieved of his duties immediately.”
A statement from the Condors: pic.twitter.com/TgLoPskvMk
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) October 10, 2022
The Oilers are working closely with Condors management and have made it clear they fully support the team’s decision to remove Drown from his duties effectively immediately.
We are working closely with Bakersfield Condors management & fully support the decision to relieve Mr. Drown of his duties. https://t.co/FF850mrOYy
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 10, 2022
Drown had recently completed his fourth season in Bakersfield as head athletic trainer. A native of Waterloo, Ontario, Drown spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant athletic trainer with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners before joining the Condors. He also previously held a number of positions with various junior hockey leagues and organizations.
Chad Drown the Bakersfield Condors trainer facing sexual assault charges previously worked with the OHL’s Guelph Storm, Hockey Canada’s U18 team, Wilfred Laurier University, and in be OHL’s U16 program.
— Ian Kennedy (@IanKennedyCK) October 10, 2022
The charges against Drown have not been proven in court.
The news came out shortly after the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that they had suspended Ian Cole following accusations of sexual assault and grooming made against the defenseman in a statement posted to Twitter Friday. Twitter user Emily_Smith3333 accused Cole of grooming and sexually assaulting them in a statement while they were in high school and Cole was an active NHL player at the time.
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