Report: Details from NHL's hearing with Ian Cole

According to ESPN reporter Emily Kaplan, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole met with with NHL officials at the NHL's head office in New York City yesterday for roughly an hour as part of the league's investigation into underage sexual misconduct allegations made against him by an anonymous woman.

From Kaplan:

At the time of the interview, the person who posted a lengthy statement on Twitter saying Cole sexually abused and groomed her as a minor had not come forward -- and the league is unable to identify the creator of the account without subpoenaing Twitter or obtaining a court order, sources said.

Cole, who signed with the Lightning as a free agent this offseason, has been suspended by the team with pay "pending the results of an investigation" and missed its season opener on Tuesday. Cole has denied the allegations and said in a statement that he looks forward to clearing his name.

The interview with Cole was conducted by Jared Maples, the NHL's chief of security. Maples previously served as the director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

- Emily Kaplan

No decision on the situation and no punishment was handed down to Cole by the NHL yesterday and it's unclear what happens now. He remains suspended with pay and it's unclear if he'll be in the lineup on Friday night for the Lightning's next scheduled game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus, Ohio. 

Cole, as is stated above, denies allegations from a Twitter user who called herself Emily Smith. Smith alleges that Cole groomed her for four years, beginning when she was a minor in high school. She alleges that she suffered emotional trauma in her relationship with Cole and that his NHL teammates knew about things the entire time, but chose to remain silent. However, she herself has chosen to remain anonymous for fear that she'll face retaliation and harassment if she comes forward with her name.

"It has taken me years to find the courage to come forward and I have decided to speak out anonymously because sadly I feel that this is the only way I can be fully transparent without harassment and retaliation," she wrote.