Judge declares mistrial in Hockey Canada sexual assault case

LONDON, Ontario >> A judge declared a mistrial Friday in the sexual assault case involving five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team.

The ruling from a judge in Ontario means a new trial will be held for Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote, who have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault.

The trial began Wednesday and the prosecution’s first witness only briefly took the stand before testimony was put on hold for legal arguments that took place in the absence of the jury.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia brought jurors back Friday morning and informed them that they were being discharged.

The charges against the players relate to an encounter that took place in a hotel room in Ontario in June 2018 when many of the team’s members were in London for a Hockey Canada gala.

Family of Ecuadorian soccer player rescued after being kidnapped

QUITO, Ecuador >> The family of Ecuadorian soccer player Jackson Rodríguez was rescued after being kidnapped from their home in the coastal city of Guayaquil, police authorities reported on Friday.

Rodriguez, 26, hid under his bed while his 24-year-old wife and five-year-old son were taken on Wednesday by four “hooded and heavily armed individuals” who forced their way into the home in the Mucho Lote neighborhood.

The wife and son received medical attention following their release and were safe, police commander Pablo Dávila said.

The kidnappers demanded $500,000 for the release of the wife and son but the family refused to pay, Dávila added. Rodriguez is a left back who plays for first division club Emelec.

After police operations late Thursday, officers located the pair in the popular neighborhood of “El Fortín” in the northwest part of the city. The area is considered one of the most dangerous, a place where 22 people were massacred in March.

Top seeds Zverev and Sabalenka advance with easy victories at Madrid Open

MADRID >> Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Madrid Open on Friday.

Zverev cruised past home favorite Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2, while Sabalenka triumphed against qualifier Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-4.

Zverev, the Madrid champion in 2018 and 2021, extended his winning streak to six matches. The German player moved to No. 2 in the world after capturing the Munich title last weekend.

“A good match, I knew I had to focus against Roberto,” said Zverev, who improved to 24-5 in Madrid. “This is my favourite center court in the world, I only lost twice here in my entire life. I hope that stays the way throughout the next 10 days and that I can continue playing good tennis.”

In the third round, Zverev faces Nuno Borges or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Sabalenka, Madrid winner in 2021 and 2023 and last year’s runner-up to Iga Swiatek, converted three of her seven break opportunities to defeat the 76th-ranked Blinkova.

— The Associated Press