Ottawa Senators Suspend Assistant General Manager Randy Lee

The Ottawa Senators have suspended Assistant General Manager Randy Lee indefinitely, pending the conclusion of his current legal case. Lee was charged with harassment while in the United States for the NHL Draft Combine, and currently has his next court appearance scheduled for July 6th. The Senators GM Pierre Dorion issued a statement that included a condemnation of harassment in any form:

As our hockey club’s initial statement made clear, our Hockey Team – and our organization as a whole – will always hold our leaders, coaching staff, players and employees to the highest standards of behaviour.

Harassment in any form is unacceptable, whether it occurs inside or outside the work place. As a result, and with all the care and caution required in such cases, we have spent the past two weeks listening carefully to, and consulting with our community, our fan base and our partners to understand their expectations on the matter.

Lee’s court date was originally set for June 22rd, the first day of the draft and an important date in regards to his duties for the hockey club. Though that appearance has now been pushed back, the team has taken the additional step of suspending Lee, meaning he won’t be able to attend or help in anyway for the upcoming draft. Obviously there is no decision yet on Lee’s future with the club, as the Senators will allow the legal process to play out before making any decisions.

The 56-year old Lee has been with the Senators for 23 years, working as a video coach in 1995 and working his way up the organization. He has been accused of inappropriately touching and making lewd comments toward a hotel shuttle driver, and was arrested and charged with second-degree harassment on June 1st, to which he pleaded not guilty.