An independent appeal board has determined that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team, previously cleared of sexual assault charges, violated the Hockey Canada code of conduct.
Hockey Canada announced its acceptance of the board’s recommendations regarding continued suspensions and reinstatement dates 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 referred to as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada event in London, Ont., honoring the national junior team’s championship victory.
A panel consisting of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen suggested ongoing suspensions from Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities for four of the athletes.
McLeod will not be eligible for reinstatement until Nov. 10, 2030, while Foote will be eligible on the same date. Hart and Dube are set to be eligible in 2027 and 2028, respectively, with Formenton already eligible for immediate reinstatement.
Hockey Canada confirmed that all other members of the 2018 team can now be considered for participation in sanctioned programs without delay.
The suspended players, who had NHL careers prior to the legal proceedings, have been free to sign with NHL teams since Oct. 15 and have been eligible to play since Dec. 1.
Regarding the current status 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 played for Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League. Foote competed with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and faced contract issues with Farjestad BK. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland for the past three seasons.
In 2022, it was made public that Hockey Canada settled a legal dispute with the woman outside of court. Following this revelation, Pascale St. Onge, the then-Canadian sports minister, initiated a forensic audit to ensure public funds were not utilized for the settlement, resulting in the suspension of federal funding to the organization for nearly a year.
Accountability remains a significant focus for Hockey Canada executives, who faced questioning from Members of Parliament on how they managed the situation. Canada’s current Secretary of Sport, Adam van Koeverden, acknowledged the appeal board’s findings and emphasized the importance of addressing toxic cultures in sports.
Since 2022, Hockey Canada has made progress in addressing systemic issues and has become a signatory to the Canadian Safe Sport Program. The government continues to oversee national sport organizations to ensure the implementation of measures that prioritize safety and well-being for all participants.
