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Jul 27, 2022 1:00 AM - The Canadian Press

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen found not guilty of sexual assault

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Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen wept openly as he was found not guilty of sexual assault. (Photo - Jake Vertinin/Twitter)

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen wept openly as he was found not guilty of sexual assault.

A BC Supreme Court jury in Vancouver announced its decision after several hours of deliberations that began yesterday and continued this morning.

Virtanen was charged in January with sexual assault after a now-23-year-old woman alleged she was assaulted in his hotel room in 2017.

Virtanen was placed on leave after the allegations surfaced last year and the Canucks then bought out his contract.

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