Hockey Players Charged with Sexual Assault Following World Junior Championship Victory
London, Ontario — A Shocking Allegation Against NHL Players
Several NHL players, along with a former player, have been charged with sexual assault in relation to an alleged incident that reportedly occurred following Canada’s win at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. This disturbing revelation comes after new evidence and interviews with witnesses emerged, leading to charges against the accused individuals.
Accused Players and Charges
The London, Ontario Police Service announced that Michael McLeod faces two counts of sexual assault. Additionally, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Alex Formenton each face one count of sexual assault.
League Response and All-Star Weekend Announcement
During the NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed his doubts about the players’ return to their respective teams this season. He emphasized that their focus should be on defending themselves against the charges and anticipates that the legal process will likely prevent them from playing. Commissioner Bettman acknowledged that he recently became aware of the incident and that the NHL conducted its own year-long investigation alongside the authorities’ reopened investigations.
A Controversial Investigation
The London Police Service’s initial investigation, conducted in 2018, did not yield sufficient grounds for charges. However, a subsequent investigation, initiated in 2022, uncovered new evidence and witnesses, leading to the charges now filed against the individuals. The NHL also conducted an extensive investigation, inclusive of interviews with all players and relevant parties, yet the Commissioner did not disclose any conclusive findings regarding the players’ misconduct.
League’s Unveiled Stance
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that the NHL will withhold any information from its internal investigation until the charges are resolved. Commissioner Bettman claims the NHL does not want to interfere with the judicial proceedings and considers it important to respect the unfolding serious legal process. He also expressed that the league will respond appropriately as the situation progresses.
NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report.
