Four Canadian Hockey Stars Suspended Despite Acquittal, Appeals Panel Confirms

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:36:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An independent appeals board ruled four former Canadian junior players remain barred from international hockey after a sexual assault case, while one is reinstated.

An independent appeals panel has endorsed continued suspensions for four former Canadian hockey players who were acquitted of sexual assault, citing breaches of Hockey Canada’s code of conduct. The players – Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Carter Hart – face reinstatement dates ranging from 2027 to 2030, while Alex Formenton is cleared to return immediately. The decision underscores Hockey Canada’s zero‑tolerance stance on misconduct and highlights the separate governance structures between Hockey Canada and the NHL. The case, stemming from a 2018 incident in London, Ontario, has sparked national conversation around safe sport and systemic abuse in men's hockey.

Four former Canadian junior hockey players remain suspended from international play after an independent appeals board upheld a ruling that they breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, despite being acquitted of sexual assault last year.

The appeals panel issued recommendations that Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Carter Hart should stay barred from all Hockey Canada‑sanctioned programs while the fifth player, Alex Formenton, is being reinstated immediately.

All five men were charged in July 2025 over a 2018 incident that took place in a London, Ontario hotel during a gala. The court found them not guilty, citing that the complainant, known as EM, did not provide credible or reliable evidence of consent for the sexual acts that occurred.

The appeals board confirmed that the players’ actions violated Hockey Canada’s conduct rules and set staggered reinstatement dates: Foote is eligible on 10 November this year, Hart on 10 November 2027, Dube on 10 November 2028 and McLeod on 10 November 2030. The ban does not affect their eligibility to play in the NHL, which operates under separate governance and had already cleared all five to sign contracts last year.

"This case sparked a national conversation about safe sport and the toxic culture that can exist in men’s hockey," former Olympics figure Adam van Koeverden said. He added that Hockey Canada is taking steps to address systemic failures and hold national sport organizations accountable.