Hockey Canada Players Found Not Guilty in 2018 Sexual Assault Case

A Canadian court has found five former Hockey Canada players not guilty in a widely publicized sexual assault case linked to a 2018 incident in London, Ontario.

Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, and Dillon Dubé were all acquitted of charges stemming from an alleged group sexual assault involving a woman identified in court as “E.M.” The incident occurred following a celebratory gala for their gold medal win at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship.

The case had originally been closed by London police in 2019 without charges, but was reopened in 2022 after public outrage over the revelation that Hockey Canada paid a $3.5 million settlement to E.M. This renewed scrutiny led to formal charges being filed and a full trial.

During testimony, E.M. stated that she had consensual sex only with McLeod, and did not consent to sexual acts with the others. The defence countered that all encounters were consensual and that E.M. had actively participated.

In delivering her verdict, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said she found E.M.’s evidence “neither credible nor reliable.” As a result, all five accused were acquitted and told they were free to go.

The Crown has 30 days to appeal the decision.

The verdict has reignited public conversations around sexual assault, consent, and accountability in sports culture, particularly involving elite athletes and national sports organizations.