Appeal Board Upholds Hockey Canada Suspensions for Four 2018 World Junior Players

A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors hockey team (L-R), Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., on April 30, 2025. The Canadian Press/Nicole Osborne

An independent appeal board has upheld suspensions for four of the five hockey players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team who were acquitted of sexual assault last year.

The five players in question were found not guilty last July of sexually assaulting a woman in London, Ont., in 2018.

But the three-judge appeal board ruled that all five players violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct and recommended the continued suspensions of Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs, Hockey Canada said in an Aug. 12 press release.

Panel members John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen said the remaining player, Alex Formenton, could be reinstated  “immediately” to participate in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programming.

Hockey Canada said it accepted the board’s recommended reinstatement of Formenton, as well as the ongoing suspensions of the other four players.

Foote’s suspension is set to conclude on Nov. 10, but Hart and Dubé will not be eligible for reinstatement until the same date in 2027 and 2028, respectively. McLeod’s eligibility will not occur until November 10, 2030.

The ruling does not impact their ability to play in the NHL. The players already received clearance last year after their league suspensions were lifted following their acquittal.

The independent investigation also found no evidence that any other player on the 2018 National Junior Team violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, making those players eligible for participation in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program, effective immediately, the statement said.

Four of the five players had established NHL careers that were put on hold when sexual assault charges were filed against them in February 2024.

Hart played with the Philadelphia Flyers, McLeod and Foote played for the New Jersey Devils, and Dubé played for the Calgary Flames. Formenton, who previously played for the Ottawa Senators, was playing overseas when the five men took leaves of absence from the sport to answer to the charges.

Court Case Impact on Hockey Careers

The players, who are now in their mid-to-late 20s, were in London on June 18, 2018 for a gala and a golf tournament commemorating their championship success after defeating Sweden to win gold earlier that year.

The players were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room later that night. McLeod was labelled the “ringleader” by the Crown attorney who said he devised a “campaign” to bring the other four players into the room to engage in sexual acts with the woman, who was referred to only as “E.M.” during the trial to protect her identity.

E.M. testified that she was naked and drunk when men she didn’t know showed up in McLeod’s hotel room. All five players were accused of varying sexual assaults against E.M.

The judge found all five players not guilty last July, saying the complainant’s testimony was filled with inconsistencies.

The NHL said the players, who were unrestricted free agents, could sign with a team on or after Oct. 15 of that year and return to the league after Dec. 1.

Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and played a role in the team reaching this year’s Stanley Cup final. Dubé was the second to secure his NHL position by signing with St. Louis on July 1.

McLeod was part of Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League last season, and Foote played for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League. Recently, Farjestad BK rescinded a one-year contract with Foote after the Swedish club faced criticism for the signing.

Formenton has spent the last three seasons playing in Switzerland.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.