An independent appeal board has determined that five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team, who were cleared of sexual assault accusations last year, violated the Hockey Canada code of conduct.
Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that it accepted the board’s recommendations regarding the ongoing suspensions and reinstatement dates for Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod.
Following their acquittal in July 2025 on sexual assault charges related to an incident involving a woman referred to as “E.M.” at a Hockey Canada gala in 2018, the three-member appeal board, consisting of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen, advised continued suspensions from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs for four of the players.
The reinstatement dates for the players vary, with McLeod not eligible for reinstatement until November 10, 2030. Foote will be eligible on November 10, while Hart and Dube are set for eligibility on November 10 in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Formenton is immediately eligible for reinstatement.
Hockey Canada stated that all other players from the 2018 team are now eligible for potential participation in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program, effective immediately.
The players under suspension, who had NHL careers before the legal charges, have been able to sign with NHL teams since October 15 and have been allowed to play since December 1.
Regarding the current whereabouts 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. Meanwhile, McLeod competed last season with Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League. Foote played for the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves last season and had a one-year deal with Farjestad BK canceled due to criticism. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland for the last three seasons.
In 2022, when it was revealed that Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit with the woman outside of court, Canada’s then-sport minister, Pascale St. Onge, initiated a forensic audit to ensure public funds were not used for the settlement and suspended federal funding to the organization for nearly a year.
Emphasizing the importance of accountability, Hockey Canada officials faced questioning by Members of Parliament on Parliament Hill regarding their handling of the situation. Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s current secretary of sport, acknowledged the independent appeal board’s conclusions, stating that the breach of the Hockey Canada Code of Conduct by all five players initiated a national dialogue on safe sport and the concerning culture in men’s hockey. He highlighted the pivotal role of women and survivors in effecting changes in the toxic culture prevalent in the sport.
Van Koeverden noted the progress made by Hockey Canada since 2022 in addressing systemic failures, underscoring the organization’s full commitment to the Canadian Safe Sport Program and a culture of transformation.
He stressed the need for the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in Canada’s sport system, calling for accountability in implementing measures to prevent and address misconduct. The government continues to oversee national sport organizations closely to ensure the promotion of a culture of safety, respect, and integrity across all sports.