"Five Canadian hockey players acquitted in high-profile sexual assault case"

Five Former Canadian Junior Hockey Players Acquitted of Sexual Assault Charges

Five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior ice hockey team were found not guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room that year, a judge ruled, concluding a high-profile trial that sparked discussions about consent and the role of hockey in Canadian culture.

Ontario Justice Maria Carroccia stated that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, describing the complainant as “neither credible nor reliable.” Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote were cleared of all charges. As the verdicts were read, the defendants showed visible reactions, some with hands on their temples.

The allegations stemmed from an incident in June 2018 at a hotel in London, Ontario, following a celebration honoring the team’s junior championship win.

Audible reactions filled the courtroom as the judge delivered her decision, more than seven years after the woman first reported the alleged assault to authorities.

The case drew intense scrutiny toward Canadian hockey, affecting not only the accused—many of whom pursued professional careers—but also Hockey Canada, which later acknowledged maintaining undisclosed funds to resolve sexual assault claims.

Justice Carroccia highlighted inconsistencies in the complainant’s testimony, including details about her alcohol consumption.

Outside the courthouse, protesters gathered with signs expressing support for the accuser, with some voicing frustration over the outcome.

The defendants were part of Canada’s 2018 under-20 World Junior team, a tournament often featuring top prospects, many already drafted by NHL teams.

In early 2024, each player was charged with sexual assault, while McLeod faced an additional count of aiding an offense, related to events on June 19, 2018. All pleaded not guilty.

The woman, identified as “EM,” was 20 at the time and reported meeting McLeod at a bar before engaging in what she initially described as consensual activity in his hotel room. She later alleged that other players joined without her permission.

Court evidence included messages in which McLeod reportedly invited teammates to his room for a “three-way.”

EM testified that she was intoxicated, frightened, and unable to consent when the others entered. Over nine days of testimony in May, she described feeling overwhelmed by the sudden presence of multiple men.