Published:
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston is reporting in The Athletic that the five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team who were acquitted of sexual assault charges in July will be suspended by the NHL until Dec. 1.
Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote will be eligible to sign with a team as soon as Oct. 15 and can begin conditioning with a team on Nov. 15, according to Johnston.
Source: The NHL will permit Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton to resume playing Dec. 1, following their acquittal on sexual assault charges. https://t.co/RTQxWm6EDYhttps://t.co/RTQxWm6EDY
Each of the five players had been charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in a London, Ont., hotel in June 2018 following a Hockey Canada gala event. McLeod also faced a second charge of being a party to the offence.
The players’ criminal trial began in late April in London and was marked by repeated delays, a mistrial, and the dismissal of a second jury before continuing by judge.
The National Hockey League said in a statement following the verdict on July 24 by Justice Maria Carroccia that even though the players were found not guilty, their actions were “unacceptable” and the players were ineligible to return to the league while it reviewed the decision.
The NHLPA criticized the league’s position at the time, saying that the ruling didn’t align with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
“Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were acquitted of all charges by Justice Carroccia of the Ontario Superior Court,” the NHLPA’s statement read. “After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work. The NHL’s declaration that the Players are ‘ineligible’ to play pending its further analysis of the Court’s findings is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA.
“We are addressing this dispute with the League and will have no further comment at this time.”
Four of the players (Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod) were playing in the NHL until charges were announced during the 2023-24 season and are currently unrestricted free agents. Formenton has been out of the league since 2022 and rejoined Swiss club HC Ambri-Piotta earlier in September.
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