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.

A former member of Canada's 2018 World Junior Hockey team, Brett Howden, is set to finish his cross-examination today in the sexual assault trial involving five of his ex-teammates. The players, including Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges stemming from an incident at a hotel in London, Ontario, on June 19, 2018. Howden's testimony revealed he was present in the hotel room but recalled few details of the events.

The ongoing trial of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team has taken a dramatic turn as Brett Howden, a key witness, appears to selectively forget details that could implicate his ex-teammates in a serious sexual assault case. Prosecutors are arguing that Howden's inability to recall critical evidence—specifically, moments that could be damaging to the accused—is disingenuous, especially given his clear memories of the complainant's actions that night.

Defense lawyers, however, argue that Howden's testimony reflects a genuine confusion rather than deceit. The players involved—Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Callan Foote—plead not guilty to serious charges related to an encounter with a woman who testified she was intoxicated and felt compelled to participate in sexual activities. As the case unfolds, Howden's statements and potential inconsistencies will be heavily scrutinized, impacting the proceedings significantly.