Five Ex-Junior Hockey Players Acquitted in Ontario

All five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team—Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote—have been acquitted of sexual assault charges related to a 2018 incident in a London, Ontario hotel room after a gala celebrating the team's gold medal. Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia ruled that the complainant's evidence was not credible or reliable, and the Crown failed to meet its burden of proof. McLeod, who also faced an additional charge of being a party to the offense, was acquitted of that charge as well. The high-profile trial, marked by delays and a mistrial, drew national attention and focused on issues of consent. The verdict ends a seven-year legal saga but continues to fuel scrutiny of hockey culture in Canada. The acquittal has also sparked discussions about the players' potential return to professional hockey.