Former professional hockey player Ryan Kesler is on the defense after being arrested and charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct related to alleged inappropriate contact with a 16-year-old earlier this year.

Through his legal counsel, the ex-NHL star — who played as a center for 15 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks — has denied the accusations stemming from an alleged incident on Jan. 1 in Michigan.

Both counts allege that Kesler, 41, engaged in sexual contact with a 16-year-old child “through force or coercion and/or (had) reason to know the victim was physically helpless,” according to a criminal complaint filed by police in Orchard Lake, Mich., and obtained by USA Today Sports.

Authorities obtained a warrant for Kesler’

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