An independent appeal panel has determined that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, who were cleared of sexual assault charges last year, violated the Hockey Canada code of conduct. Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that it has accepted the panel’s recommendations regarding ongoing suspensions and reinstatement timelines for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod.
The players were acquitted in July 2025 in connection with allegations of sexual assault involving a woman referred to as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada event in London, Ont. Despite the acquittal, a panel consisting of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen advised that four of the players remain suspended from Hockey Canada programs.
Reinstatement dates differ for each player, with McLeod set for eligibility on Nov. 10, 2030. Foote will be eligible on the same date, while Hart and Dube will be eligible in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Formenton, on the other hand, is immediately eligible for reinstatement.
According to Hockey Canada, all other members of the 2018 team are now eligible to be considered for participation in sanctioned programs. The suspended players, who had NHL careers prior to the charges, have been able to sign with NHL teams since Oct. 15 and play since Dec. 1.
Regarding the current whereabouts of the five players, Hart joined the Vegas Golden Knights and contributed to the team’s appearance in this year’s Stanley Cup final. Dube signed with St. Louis on July 1, while McLeod played for Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League last season. Foote played for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and had a contract with Farjestad BK canceled due to public backlash. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland for the past three seasons.
In 2022, it was revealed that Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit with the woman outside of court, prompting scrutiny from Canada’s sport minister at the time, Pascale St. Onge. A forensic audit was initiated to ensure public funds were not used in the settlement, leading to a freeze in federal funding to the organization.
Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s current secretary of sport, acknowledged the findings of the appeal board and emphasized the importance of fostering a safe sporting environment. He highlighted the progress made by Hockey Canada in addressing systemic issues and promoting a culture of change, emphasizing the need for accountability and safeguarding the well-being of all participants in sports. The government continues to monitor national sport organizations to ensure the implementation of measures to prevent and address misconduct within the sporting community.
