Former Canadian Hockey Players Acquitted in Assault Case

Five ex-members of Canada's 2018 junior ice hockey team were acquitted of sexual assault charges related to a hotel encounter after a championship gala. This led to disruptions in their trial, Hockey Canada's funding freeze, and organizational leadership changes.

Five former members of Canada's 2018 junior ice hockey team were acquitted of sexual assault charges involving an incident with a woman in a hotel room, a judge announced Thursday, reports the CBC News.

This legal case, involving Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote, surfaced after a celebratory event in London, Canada. All five, who previously denied the allegations, faced charges, with McLeod facing an additional charge. By the time these charges came to light in early 2024, the players were scattered across various global teams.

The trial experienced numerous setbacks, including a mistrial and jury dismissals before proceeding with a judge-alone decision. Recently, the handling of the case provoked significant public backlash, particularly due to revelations about Hockey Canada's settlement tactics, prompting their funding freeze and leadership resignations.

(With inputs from agencies.)