An independent appeal panel has determined that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team, who were cleared of sexual assault charges last year, violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.
Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that it accepted the panel’s recommendations regarding the ongoing suspensions and reinstatement dates for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod.
The players were acquitted in July 2025 after facing allegations of sexual assault involving a woman referred to as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario, celebrating the national junior team’s world championship victory.
Following the review by the appeal board consisting of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen, it was advised that four of the players should remain suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.
The reinstatement dates vary for each player, with McLeod’s eligibility set for November 10, 2030. Foote will be eligible on the same date, while Hart and Dube will be eligible in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Formenton is immediately eligible for reinstatement.
Hockey Canada confirmed that all other members of the 2018 team are now eligible for potential participation in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program.
The suspended players, who had NHL careers prior to the legal proceedings, have been able to sign with NHL teams since October 15 and have been allowed to play since December 1.
Regarding the current status of the five players, Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and contributed to their appearance in 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 Foote played with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League and had a contract with Farjestad BK rescinded due to criticism.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 with the woman out of court, prompting Canada’s sport minister at the time to order a forensic audit to ensure public funds were not used for the settlement. Federal funding to the organization was suspended for nearly a year.
Emphasizing accountability, Canada’s current secretary of sport, Adam van Koeverden, acknowledged the findings of the independent appeal board and highlighted the importance of addressing systemic issues in sports culture. He praised the voices of women and survivors for initiating positive changes and stressed the necessity for a safe and respectful environment in sports organizations.
Van Koeverden noted the progress made by Hockey Canada since 2022 to rectify past failures and underscored the commitment to fostering a culture of change. He emphasized the government’s vigilance in monitoring national sport organizations to ensure the implementation of measures that prioritize safety, respect, and integrity across all sports.