[GullFoss]

As the trial was unfolding, I came to the conclusion that the judge would probably find that the victim consented into doing something she didn't really want to do, even in the moment. The victim clearly felt coerced given her almost immediate breakdown after the ordeal was over, but it's unclear within a reasonable doubt the players actually coerced her. She put out signals that suggested she was into it, which leaves room for the players to say "we didn't coerce her, she put out signals suggesting she wanted group sex and she never put out signals telling us to stop."

Walking properly in high heels and buying your own drinks suggest the woman was into Michael McLeod and was sober enough to consent to bang him. It also suggests that during that time of the night, the gang rape wasn't premeditated on behalf of the players - they're weren't trying to find a girl to get drunk and gang rape. And that the girl was sober enough to oppose the group sex.

If you go back to the texts between the girl and McLeod, she clearly says she was happy to bang him, but it was the group stuff that came afterwards that she wasn't happy with. So I don't buy the idea that she's trying to bring honor on her relationship by crying rape...she openly admitted she wanted to cheat on her boyfriend with McLeod (and did).

It's possible to believe the victim was raped, the judge made the right decision and the players should never be in the NHL again.