An independent appeal board has determined that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, who were previously cleared of sexual assault charges last year, violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.
Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to uphold the board’s recommendations regarding the continued suspensions and reinstatement dates for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod.
The players were acquitted in July 2025 in relation to allegations of sexual assault involving an individual referred to as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada event in London, Ont., commemorating the national junior team’s world championship victory.
Despite the acquittals, a panel comprising John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen advised that four of the players should remain suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities.
The reinstatement dates differ for each player, with McLeod not eligible for reinstatement until Nov. 10, 2030. Foote will be eligible on Nov. 10, while Hart and Dube will become eligible on Nov. 10 in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Formenton is immediately eligible for reinstatement.
Hockey Canada has stated that all other members of the 2018 team are now eligible to be considered for participation in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.
The suspended players, who had NHL careers prior to the allegations, have been allowed to sign with NHL teams since Oct. 15 and have been permitted to compete since Dec. 1.
Regarding the current whereabouts of the five players, Hart has joined the Vegas Golden Knights and contributed to their advancement to this year’s Stanley Cup final. Dube secured an NHL contract with St. Louis on July 1. McLeod played for Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League last season. Foote played for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and had a one-year deal with Farjestad BK canceled recently due to criticism. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland for the past three seasons.
In 2022, it was revealed that Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit out of court with the woman involved. This led to an audit initiated by Canada’s sport minister at the time, Pascale St. Onge, to ensure public funds were not used in the settlement. Federal funding to the organization was suspended for nearly a year.
Adam van Koeverden, the current secretary of sport in Canada, acknowledged the findings of the independent appeal board, emphasizing that all five players violated the Hockey Canada Code of Conduct. He highlighted the importance of addressing issues of safe sport and toxic culture within men’s hockey, crediting the voices of women and survivors for driving necessary changes.
Van Koeverden noted the progress made by Hockey Canada since 2022 in addressing systemic shortcomings and emphasized the organization’s commitment to fostering a culture of change. He stressed the need for national sport organizations to prioritize the safety and well-being of all individuals involved, with a focus on preventing maltreatment and promoting integrity.
The government continues to oversee the efforts of national sport organizations in implementing systemic changes to ensure a culture of safety, respect, and integrity across all sports.