Clippers say investigation was unknown when King was hired
The Nanaimo Clippers say the club did not know Tyler King was under investigation when it hired him as vice-president of business operations in 2024. King now faces charges in Alberta connected to allegations involving three underage junior A hockey players.
In a statement released Tuesday, the junior hockey team said King joined the organization during the summer of 2024 but departed a few months later, before the season began. The Clippers said they ended his employment after learning that the RCMP was investigating him. The team said the allegations do not concern his short period with the Nanaimo organization.
“The safety and well-being of our players, billet families and young fans is our highest priority.”
The RCMP announced Monday that its investigation began in 2024, around the time King left the Okotoks Oilers, a southern Alberta club that also competes in the British Columbia Hockey League. Police have charged the 39-year-old with luring, sexual exploitation and making child pornography. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Police say King worked with teams in several provinces
Police arrested King last week at a border crossing in Ontario, according to the source material. The RCMP said he had worked with hockey organizations in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. After his time in Okotoks, King moved to Nanaimo and later taught sports journalism at a university in New York state.
| Organization or location | Information provided |
|---|---|
| Okotoks Oilers | Former employer; police say a report was made in June 2024 |
| Nanaimo Clippers | King was hired in summer 2024 and left before the season began |
| Ontario | King was arrested at a U.S. border crossing last week |
The Clippers said they had not received, and were not aware of, any complaints or concerns about King’s conduct during his brief time with the club. The organization added that it had contacted the RCMP and offered its full co-operation if required. That response places the focus on the team’s stated timeline: King was brought into the Nanaimo operation, left within months, and was dismissed once the club learned of the police investigation.
League says employment ended after accusations became known
The BCHL issued a separate statement confirming that King’s team immediately terminated his employment after learning about the accusations. The league said it has supported the RCMP investigation, but it did not immediately respond when asked whether it knew about the allegations involving King when he left Okotoks and was subsequently hired in Nanaimo.
The case has raised questions for a sport built around young athletes, billet families and close community relationships, although the available information does not allege misconduct during King’s time with the Clippers. The team’s statement emphasized its responsibility toward players and young fans, while the police investigation and court process will determine the facts behind the Alberta charges. Until those proceedings are resolved, the allegations remain allegations.
- King faces charges of luring, sexual exploitation and making child pornography.
- The allegations involve three underage junior A hockey players.
- The Nanaimo Clippers say they co-operated with the RCMP after learning of the investigation.
