Former Windsor Spitfire Ben Johnson, convicted Thursday of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, will no longer be property of the New Jersey Devils.

The NHL franchise announced it was parting ways with the former Windsor Spitfire hours after his conviction.

"Earlier today, the club was informed of Windsor Superior Court Justice Kirk Munroe's ruling against Mr. Johnson. Based on the ruling, the club has initiated the process required to terminate Mr. Johnson's Standard Player's Contract," the club said in a statement online. "The organization will have no further comment."

New Jersey drafted Johnson in the third round, 90th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Johnson's lawyers argued their client never had sex with the victim in a downtown bar's bathroom in 2013, suggesting other consensual contact was made with the girl.

Judge Kirk Munroe said he didn't believe Johnson's explanation, citing several items of forensic evidence that showed sexual intercourse had occurred.

He also concluded that the victim could not have given consent because of the high alcohol level in her body.

Last year, Johnson was found not guilty of another alleged sexual assault a few weeks before the incident on St. Patrick's Day.