Four Canadian hockey stars remain suspended after sexual assault acquittal

An independent appeals oversight body has delivered a landmark ruling in a high-profile Canadian ice hockey case, upholding lengthy suspensions for four former under-20 national team players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges last year, while clearing a fifth player for immediate reinstatement. The five players—Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote—faced criminal charges stemming from a 2018 alleged sexual assault incident in London, Ontario, where the team had gathered for a gala. A Canadian court found all five not guilty of the charges in July 2025, after presiding justice Maria Carroccia ruled the complainant’s evidence was not credible or reliable. The case centered on whether the complainant, 20 at the time of the incident, had consented to all sexual activity that unfolded in a hotel room. The complainant testified she had initially agreed to sex with McLeod but became intoxicated, felt threatened, and did not consent to subsequent acts with other players; defense lawyers argued all players reasonably believed the complainant had consented to all interactions. Despite the criminal acquittals, the independent appeals board determined that four of the five players violated Hockey Canada’s official code of conduct, and recommended they remain suspended from all national federation-sanctioned activities, including international representation. Formenton, the fifth player, was also found to have broken conduct rules but will be reinstated immediately. The suspensions do not impact the players’ eligibility to compete in the National Hockey League, which operates independently of Hockey Canada and cleared all five players to sign new NHL contracts late last year following the league’s own separate investigation into the incident. The appeals board outlined staggered reinstatement timelines for the four suspended players: Cal Foote will become eligible to return to Hockey Canada programs this November 10, Carter Hart will have to wait until November 10, 2027, Dillon Dube until November 10, 2028, and Michael McLeod will not be eligible to return until November 10, 2030. Board officials have not released any explanation for the differing suspension lengths. The 8-year-old case has already had a lasting impact on Canadian sports culture, sparking a national reckoning over athlete safety and toxic culture in men’s elite hockey. Following Wednesday’s ruling, Canada’s Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden emphasized that the case’s legacy is tangible progress toward reform. “It is the voices of women and survivors, and the courage and bravery it takes to come forward, that have led to changes we are seeing in toxic culture,” van Koeverden said in a statement. He added that Hockey Canada has made meaningful progress addressing long-standing systemic failures within the organization, and stressed that all national sports governing bodies must be held accountable for maintaining safe, respectful environments for all athletes.