In a significant ruling, an Ontario judge acquitted five former players from Canada's World Junior Hockey team in a sexual assault case, citing the complainant’s lack of credibility. The players involved—Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote—were found not guilty of all charges stemming from a 2018 incident in a London hotel room.

Justice Maria Carroccia pointed to insufficient evidence to support the claims, emphasizing inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony. Despite the acquittals, the NHL announced that the players would remain ineligible to play while reviewing the situation, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations, which led to public protests and a lawsuit settlement involving Hockey Canada.

The NHLPA advocates for the reinstatement of five players acquitted of sexual assault charges, asserting they should be able to return to the NHL after a lengthy absence. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, and Cal Foote were cleared of all allegations stemming from an incident in a London hotel seven years ago. Despite the acquittal, the NHL declared the players ineligible pending review of the court's findings, a move the NHLPA argues contradicts their collective bargaining agreement.

The players, all active NHL members at the time of their arrests, have faced significant disruptions in their careers due to these allegations. Formenton, an Ottawa Senators draft choice, hasn’t played since 2022. The NHLPA insists these players deserve the opportunity to resume their professional careers after being cleared of wrongdoing.

The Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal continues to unfold as charges have been laid against former players from the 2018 World Junior team, specifically Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote. The timeline of events reveals a troubling sequence, starting from the gold medal victory against Sweden on January 5, 2018, to the serious allegations made by a woman in June of that year, claiming to have been assaulted by eight players during a Hockey Canada event.

The investigation has been extensive, involving Hockey Canada, local law enforcement, and multiple independent parties. Despite the closure of the initial investigation in 2019, new developments arose in 2022 with the filing of a civil suit against Hockey Canada and the implicated players, which was settled privately. Public outrage has grown since the details of these events were revealed, leading to significant scrutiny of Hockey Canada’s governance and funding practices.

The NHL has stated that five players acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in a London, Ontario hotel room seven years ago will remain ineligible to play while the league reviews the judge's findings. The players, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, and Cal Foote, all part of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team, were found not guilty by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia. The league described the allegations as disturbing and the behavior in question as "unacceptable." Notably, McLeod, Hart, Dubé, and Foote were active players during their arrests in 2024, while Formenton has not played since 2022.

In a significant legal development, a judge has acquitted five former players from Canada's world junior hockey team—Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote—of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in June 2018. The ruling highlights inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony, with the judge noting a lack of credible evidence to support the accusations.

Justice Maria Carroccia's five-hour explanation emphasized doubts about the complainant's reliability, particularly her portrayal of events on the night in question, which were contradicted by surveillance footage and witness accounts. The players, who faced intense scrutiny and public attention over the years, were not on any NHL rosters after being placed on indefinite leave. The incident has sparked discussions about consent and accountability in sports.