Where do things stand with the sexual assault case involving 2018 Canada world junior players?

New Jersey Devils defenseman Cal Foote (52) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game Jan. 17, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (Source: AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

A scandal has rocked Canadian hockey and led to multiple investigations of several players who were on the nation's gold medal-winning 2018 world junior team, including some who have moved on to the NHL.

Charges were filed February in London, Ontario, against five of those players, all of whom took a leave of absence from their respective teams. On Sunday, the four remaining in the NHL — Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Dillon Dube — were not tendered qualifying offers, making them free agents.

They are still awaiting trial.

 

What happened?

A woman sued Hockey Canada in 2022, alleging she was sexually assaulted by eight members of Canada's world junior team after a fundraising gala in London in 2018. Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit, and then an investigation revealed the organization had two secret funds to pay settlements on claims of sexual assault and abuse.

According to London Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann, the alleged incident happened in the early morning hours of June 19, 2018, after one of the accused met the victim at a bar and took her to Delta Hotel London Armouries.

According to court documents previously available, the woman, then 20, alleged that “John Doe #1” took her to a hotel room and invited seven other men into the room to perform undisclosed sexual acts, intimidating her and preventing her from leaving. The woman said in the lawsuit the men directed her to take a shower and asked her to say on video she was sober.

Dann said London Police received a call later on June 19, 2018, from a relative of the victim and launched an investigation. That was closed in 2019 with no charges.

The 2022 suit, which sought $3.55 million in damages and was dropped after reaching the settlement with Hockey Canada, led to police reopening the investigation and the charges against five members of that team. Asked about additional players, Dann said in February that charges have been laid “for all the charges we have reasonable grounds for.”

The NHL launched its own investigation in 2022. Officials pledged to release the findings, though Commissioner Gary Bettman said in February that would depend on what the league can say given legal proceedings.

 

Who has been charged?

Hart, formerly of the Philadelphia Flyers; McLeod and Foote, formerly of the New Jersey Devils; Dube, formerly of the Calgary Flames; and ex-NHL player Alex Formenton, now with the Swiss club HC Ambri-Piotta, have been charged with sexual assault. McLeod is facing an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault, which Dann said was for aiding someone else in committing an offense.

Attorneys for all five said the players are not guilty and will fight the allegations. The four NHL players were on paid leave from their teams until the end of June.

Hart was the Flyers’ No. 1 goaltender, while McLeod and Dube were regulars. Foote, a defenseman and son of former NHL player Adam Foote, primarily spent this past season in the American Hockey League. Formenton played in 109 games for the Ottawa Senators from 2017 through 2022 before going to Europe.

 

What's next?

Attorneys for the players involved have requested and been granted a trial by jury. A virtual hearing in June set the stage for another on July 3. Another court date has been scheduled for Aug. 13 to potentially firm up the date for the trial to begin.

Bettman earlier in the year said he “would be surprised” if any of them play before the case is resolved.

 

Possible fallout?

If the players are convicted of sexual assault, Canadian law includes jail sentences, depending on several factors, including the age of the alleged victim.

Bettman made it clear the league will let the legal case play out before taking any steps. He also pointed out that the four NHL players do not have contracts beyond this season.

"They’re all away from their teams on leave, and (then) they’re all free agents," Bettman said. “They won’t be under contract after this season anyway.”

The NHL's investigation has not been released and will presumably remain that way until the case is resolved.

Whatever the court decides, Bettman has wide latitude to make decisions in the interest of the game when it comes to off-ice behavior. The league in 2019 suspended Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov for the 2019-20 season and ensuing playoffs after determining he committed acts of domestic violence. Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games for violating the league’s gambling policy.

There is an appeals process through the NHL Players’ Association and an arbitrator jointly hired by the league and union to rule on disputes, when necessary.

Hockey Canada, meanwhile, has already lost several sponsors, including Nike, and its CEO and board resigned in 2022 in the wake of this and other scandals.