STOCKHOLM (AP) - Police have cleared three members of Sweden's national hockey team who were questioned Thursday about an alleged sexual assault against a 21-year-old woman.

 

The three players - Kristian Huselius, 26, a Florida Panthers forward; Andreas Lilja, 27, a Panthers defenceman; and Henrik Tallinder, 26, a defenceman with the Buffalo Sabres - announced Friday morning that they were quitting the national team squad in the middle of a tournament.

 

Their decision came after they were questioned Thursday night about a woman who reported she had been raped at the same hotel the players were staying at in the capital of Stockholm.

 

Friday afternoon, police said they were no longer investigating the incident.

 

"We can't find any suspected perpetrators in this case," police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said. However, he added that the decision to end the investigation "does not necessarily mean" that the woman's report was not credible.

 

"It's like when you have a break-in in your car," Lindgren said. "We just don't have any leads to go on. That doesn't mean there hasn't been a break-in in your car."

 

There was no immediate comment from the Swedish Hockey Association on whether the three players would rejoin the team for the remainder of the Swedish Hockey Games this weekend in Stockholm.

 

Michael Englund, the national team's general manager, said at a news conference Friday morning that the three were quitting the squad "because of the turbulence of the last 24 hours, and with regard for what's best for the team".

 

Because of the police questioning, the three players were forced to miss Sweden's opening game against the Czech Republic, which the Swedes won 3-2 after penalty shots.

 

Huselius and Tallinder are playing in Sweden's Elite League for Linkoping during the NHL lockout, while Lilja is playing for Mora.

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=114464

Lilja is with the Preds. Get with the times man.

It was Peter Worrel impersonating Lilja again.

Lilja is with the Preds. Get with the times man.

683169[/snapback]

I thought he was still on the panthers.

 

I guess I will have to look at the roster next year to see who is still on the team.

The players claim the sex was consensual. I don't know. It takes the rare slut to consent to three guys in a row.