An independent appeal board has determined that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team, who were previously cleared of sexual assault charges, violated the Hockey Canada code of conduct. Hockey Canada announced its acceptance of the board’s recommendations regarding the extended suspensions and reinstatement schedules for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod.
The players were acquitted in July 2025 following allegations of sexual assault involving a woman identified as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada event in London, Ont., where the national junior team’s victory was celebrated. Despite the acquittal, a panel consisting of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen advised ongoing suspensions for four of the players.
Reinstatement dates vary among the players, with McLeod not eligible until Nov. 10, 2030, Foote on Nov. 10, and Hart and Dube in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Formenton, however, is immediately eligible for reinstatement. Hockey Canada has stated that all other players from the 2018 squad can now be considered for participation in sanctioned programs.
The affected players, who had NHL careers before the legal proceedings, have been free to sign with NHL teams since October 15 and have been eligible to play since December 1.
As for the current whereabouts of the five players, Hart joined the Vegas Golden Knights and contributed to their appearance in this year’s Stanley Cup final. Dube secured an NHL contract with St. Louis, while McLeod competed with Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League. Foote played for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and had a contract with Farjestad BK terminated following criticism. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland for the past three seasons.
The controversy surrounding the case prompted a forensic audit after it was revealed in 2022 that Hockey Canada settled out of court with the woman involved. The Canadian sport minister at the time, Pascale St. Onge, halted federal funding to the organization for nearly a year to ensure public funds were not used in the settlement.
Adam van Koeverden, the current secretary of sport in Canada, emphasized the importance of accountability and acknowledged the breach of the Hockey Canada Code of Conduct by all five players. He highlighted the cultural shift in men’s hockey towards safer practices, driven by the voices of women and survivors who have brought about necessary changes.
The statement further emphasized the progress made by Hockey Canada to address systemic issues and its commitment to a culture of change through initiatives like the Canadian Safe Sport Program. The government reiterated its vigilance in monitoring national sport organizations to maintain a safe and respectful environment across all sports.