Agent: Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro not implicated in reopened sexual assault investigation

Hockey Canada recently reopened a third-party investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving members of the country’s 2018 IIHF World Junior team.

Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro was a member of that 2018 team, though he is not implicated in the lawsuit, according to his agent. 

"He had no involvement and doesn't know anything," JP Barry, Fabbro's agent, told The Tennessean on Wed.

Barry said Fabbro fully complied with the initial investigation and plans to continue to do so in any forthcoming investigations.

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Fabbro was in attendance at the event where the alleged assault occurred in 2018, but he was asleep in his room in a different part of the hotel at the time of the alleged incident, according to Barry. 

"Dante went home to his own hotel room in another part of the hotel and had no part of anything," Barry said. "He had no knowledge or no involvement whatsoever."

In response to a request for comment, the Predators directed The Tennessean to a previous statement from Barry. 

An independent third party will conduct the investigation and require all players on the 2018 team to participate, according to a Hockey Canada statement from July 14. Those who refuse to cooperate will be banned from all Hockey Canada activities and programs effective immediately.

The NHL is also conducting an investigation into the incident since many players from the 2018 roster are now part of the league.

Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit in May after a woman claimed she was assaulted by eight players, including members of the country’s 2018 gold-medal winning junior team. None of the allegations have been proven in court. 

The organization announced the reopening of the investigation through a series of statements on July 14. 

"We know we have not done enough to address the actions of some members of the 2018 National Junior Team, or to end the culture of toxic behavior within our game," Hockey Canada said in a statement. "For that we unreservedly apologize."

Hockey Canada will also require all players, coaches, team staff and volunteers to participate in sexual violence and consent training. 

Fabbro played college hockey at Boston University from 2016-19 before signing with the Predators in 2019.

Emma Healy is a sports reporting intern for The Tennessean. Contact her at ehealy@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_EmmaHealy_.