Montreal Canadiens Round 1 draft pick Logan Mailloux suspended by OHL

The Montreal Canadiens and general manager Marc Bergevin raised more than a few eyebrows when they made defenseman Logan Mailloux the 31st overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

According to multiple reports, the Ontario Hockey League has decided to suspend Mailloux, who currently suits up for the London Knights, for what they called a violation of the league’s expectation of the appropriate conduct for an OHL player. 

Per the OHL's official website: 

"Ontario Hockey League Commissioner David Branch today announced that London Knights player Logan Mailloux has been suspended indefinitely as a result of an incident that occurred November 2020 in Sweden, while the player was on loan to SK Lejon.  This violated the League’s expectation of the appropriate conduct of an OHL player.

The player will have the opportunity to apply for reinstatement to the League on or after January 1, 2022.  A decision regarding reinstatement will be based in part on his conduct since his return to Canada and the appropriate treatment, counselling, mentoring and or education he receives from the date of this decision."

Mailloux found himself in hot water after he showed his teammates a photo of him and a woman engaging in a consensual sexual act in November of 2020, though the photo was taken without her consent; at the time, Mailloux was on loan for SK Lejon. He avoided arrest but was fined for invasion of privacy and defamation.

Despite making an appeal for NHL clubs not to draft him after this incident came to light, the Canadiens did so anyway, setting off a firestorm of controversy that even drew the attention of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

"It was totally irresponsible and a stupid act that I committed without thinking twice. I know I caused a lot of harm to this person and her family, and I regret doing this stupid and egotistical act. I deeply regret it," Mailloux said in a statement in July. "What I did is now unfortunately a part of both of her life and mine. I've apologized to her, but nonetheless this will follow her for the rest of her life. For that, I deeply and sincerely regret it."