Five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team are reportedly facing pending sexual assault charges related to an incident that occurred on June 19, 2018.
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According to a report from The Globe and Mail, the players, who have not yet been formally charged, have been instructed to surrender to London, Ont., police. The alleged sexual assault took place in a London hotel room following a Hockey Canada Foundation event.
The charges stem from accusations made by a woman who filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada in April 2022. In the complaint, the woman claimed that she was assaulted by eight players, including members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, in a hotel room after the foundation event.
Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit in May 2022, but the reopening of investigations by London police and Hockey Canada, along with a new NHL investigation, followed the public revelation of the lawsuit. The initial investigation by London police had been closed in February 2019 without charges being filed.
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London police declined to provide an update on the case, stating, “When there is further information to share regarding this investigation, we will be in contact with media outlets.” Similarly, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings.
The New Jersey Devils, in response to the developments, announced on January 24, 2024, that two of their players, Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, have been granted indefinite leaves of absence from the team.
The announcement has fueled speculation that McLeod, Foote, and three other recently-absent players—Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart—might face charges in connection to the alleged 2018 sexual assault by members of the Canadian national junior team.
As the legal situation evolves, the sports community and the public await further information on the outcome of the investigations and potential charges against the individuals involved.
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