Woman Testifies Against Five Former Hockey Players in 2018 Sexual Assault Case

A woman identified as E.M. testified in a London, Ontario court about her alleged sexual assault by five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey Team, describing feeling frightened, intoxicated, and powerless as multiple men entered her hotel room after consensual sex with one accused, Michael McLeod. She detailed how the men laughed, discussed sexual acts, and made her feel degraded and numb, stating she felt the only safe option was to comply with their demands. E.M. recounted being persuaded to stay when she tried to leave, and described the experience as being treated as a joke by the defendants. The accused—McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, and Alex Formenton—have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, with McLeod facing an additional charge. The case is part of a broader investigation into Hockey Canada’s handling of sexual assault allegations, which previously included reports of settlements funded by player registration fees. The court was instructed that any initial consent with one individual does not imply consent to subsequent acts, emphasizing the need to consider intoxication and capacity to consent for each event.