An independent appeal board has determined that five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team, previously cleared of sexual assault charges last year, violated the Hockey Canada code of conduct. Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that it agreed with the board’s decision regarding the continued suspensions and reinstatement timelines for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod.
The players were acquitted in July 2025 concerning allegations of sexual assault involving an incident with a woman referred to as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont., which celebrated the national junior team’s world championship victory.
Despite the acquittal, a three-judge appeal board composed of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen recommended ongoing suspensions from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs for four of the players. McLeod is set for potential reinstatement on Nov. 10, 2030, while Foote will be eligible on the same date. Hart and Dube’s reinstatement eligibility dates are set for 2027 and 2028, respectively. Formenton, however, is immediately eligible for reinstatement.
Hockey Canada confirmed that all other members of the 2018 team are now eligible to be considered for participation in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program. The suspended players, who had NHL careers before the legal proceedings, have been free to sign with NHL teams since Oct. 15 and have been able to play since Dec. 1.
Curently, Hart has signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and contributed to their appearance in this year’s Stanley Cup final. Dube secured an NHL contract with St. Louis on July 1, while McLeod played for Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League last season. Foote competed with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and recently had a contract rescinded by Farjestad BK due to criticism. Formenton has played in Switzerland for the past three seasons.
In 2022, it was revealed that Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit with the woman outside of court. This led to an audit by Canada’s former sport minister, Pascale St. Onge, to ensure that public funds were not used in the settlement, resulting in federal funding to the organization being frozen for almost a year.
Hockey Canada executives faced questioning by MPs on Parliament Hill regarding their handling of the situation. Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s current secretary of sport, acknowledged the appeal board’s findings and emphasized the importance of accountability and creating a safe sports culture. Van Koeverden highlighted the progress made by Hockey Canada in addressing systemic failures and promoting a culture of change.
He stressed the need for national sport organizations to prioritize safety and well-being, holding them accountable for implementing measures to prevent and address misconduct. The government continues to monitor these organizations closely to ensure the development of a culture of safety, respect, and integrity across all sports.