Jake Virtanen's sexual assault trial gets underway.

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen will be in court this week where he will face one count of sexual assault stemming from an incident back in September of 2017. Although the incident allegedly occurred in 2017, the allegations against Virtanen would come out much later with police opening an investigation following a complaint filed by a 23 year old woman.

Virtanen was a member of the Vancouver Canucks at the time of the incident as well as at the time the allegations against him where made, allegations that would eventually lead to the Canucks buying him out of his contract. Following a buyout from the Canucks, Virtanen was unable to secure an NHL contract and instead spent the last season playing for Moscow Spartak of the Kontinental Hockey League. 

According to a report from Global News' Amy Judd, the trial for the former National Hockey League player begins in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday and is expected to take roughly a week before reaching a conclusion.

Virtanen is a former first round pick (6th overall) and was selected by the Vancouver Canucks at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 317 NHL games before being bought out of his contract and has 55 career goals and 45 career assists for 100 career NHL points.