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Five former world junior hockey players acquitted in high-profile sexual assault case
LONDON, Ont. — Five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team were acquitted Thursday of sexual assault, marking the dramatic conclusion to a case that has gripped the country for more than seven years and cast a long shadow over Canadian hockey.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia found the Crown failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and ruled the complainant’s evidence was not credible or reliable. The verdict ends a trial that began in early May after two previous juries were dismissed, one over concerns of improper contact and another due to claims of being mocked by defence lawyers.
The charges stemmed from an alleged group sexual assault in a London, Ontario hotel room on June 19, 2018, after a Hockey Canada gala celebrating the team’s championship win. The five men — Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart and Cal Foote — had all pleaded not guilty. The complainant, known in court as EM, said she did not consent to the group encounter and testified she felt powerless and afraid. The defence argued that the woman had been a willing participant throughout.
Since its reopening in 2022, the case has drawn national attention, in part because of the profile of the accused and the sport’s important place in Canadian culture. The courtroom was packed during key testimony, and protesters gathered outside on the day of the verdict holding signs in support of the complainant. Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham said outside the courthouse that the case highlighted the importance of fair trials based on evidence and law, not stereotypes or assumptions.
The case also sparked wider scrutiny of Hockey Canada after the shocking revelation that the organization had maintained secret funds to settle sexual assault claims. Legal experts say the trial has renewed public debate about how Canadian law interprets consent, especially in situations where a complainant says they felt unable to say no. Victim advocacy groups criticized the courtroom process, saying it relied on outdated and harmful myths about sexual assault.
While the legal proceedings have ended for the five men, the case has opened a new chapter in Canada’s reckoning with the culture surrounding elite hockey. From youth dressing rooms to national programs and professional leagues, the conversation is shifting toward accountability, consent and the responsibilities that come with wearing the national jersey.
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