Court date moved back for prospects in sex assault case

• Accused are a Flyers prospect, a Coyotes draft pick and a New Jersey native
• There's a publication ban on the case, so details aren't forthcoming
• Nick Cousins is piling up points for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nick Cousins, dealing with sexual assault charges by day and piling up Ontario Hockey League points by night, was scheduled to make a first court appearance Monday morning in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Cousins' two Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds teammates that also are in trouble with the law from an Aug. 25 incident there - South Jersey native Mark Petaccio and Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Andrew Fritsch - were supposed to be in court, too.

What happened?

Apparently, all details are secret, other than another court date being scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5 at 9 a.m.

"There is a publication ban on the entire thing," a courthouse spokeswoman said. "The only thing allowed to tell you is when the next court appearance is."

Pressed for more details, the spokeswoman said, "Today they would have just showed up in front of a judge. The counsel would be there and they decide what the next course of action would be. Then there's another date set."

Thus far, none of the players have commented on their charges, although Cousins has been quoted since in a Sault Ste. Marie newspaper about his hockey play. The accused, all teenagers, missed the start of training camp to participate in a behavioral wellness program, but each has appeared in the Greyhounds' first four regular-season games.

Cousins scored a goal and two assists in a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday, giving the 19-year-old center three goals and eight points so far.

A 6-3 center from Sicklerville, N.J., Petaccio is scoreless in four games. Fritsch, a winger, has a goal and an assist.

The only American of the three, Petaccio previously was in court the Monday after the incident for a bail hearing.