In brief
Four former Canadian junior hockey stars were acquitted of a 2018 sexual assault case in July 2025, but Hockey Canada’s independent appeals board has ruled that they must stay suspended from all national programs. The ban applies to five players, with only one, Alex Formenton, now reinstated, while the others face staggered return dates from 2026 to 2030. This decision followed an investigation that found conduct breaches, even though the players were found not guilty in court. The ruling sparks renewed debate on safe sport practices and the handling of alleged misconduct in Canada’s top sport.
After a July 2025 acquittal, an independent appeals board prompted Hockey Canada to keep four former junior players barred from representing the country. The players—Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Carter Hart—were found not guilty of assaulting a woman at a 2018 hotel stay, but the board identified violations of the organization’s code of conduct.
\The ruling leaves five athletes subject to a suspension extending beyond the standard NHL period, with only Alex Formenton now cleared to return to Canadian national programs. The other four face staggered reinstatement deadlines: Foote in November 2026, Hart and Dube in November 2027 and 2028, and McLeod in November 2030. The reason for differentiated dates was not disclosed by officials.
\While Hockey Canada imposes limits on national representation, the NHL—operating independently—has allowed all five to sign contracts with league teams following the legal acquittal. The two sports bodies, however, maintain separate governance structures and conduct distinct investigations.
\The 2018 incident involved the players at a gala in London, Ontario, where the victim, now referred to as EM, claimed the sexual activity was not consensual after she became intoxicated. The court, while acquitting, highlighted shortcomings in the evidence and the player’s alleged contradictory statements.
\After the board’s decision, Canada’s Secretary of Sport, Adam van Koeverden, emphasized the need for accountability and cited the case as a turning point for addressing systemic failures in men's hockey. He noted that the voices of survivors have prompted changes to counter the toxic culture that can prevail in sports.
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