An independent appeal board has ruled that five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team breached the Hockey Canada code of conduct, resulting in varied suspensions that will keep several athletes sidelined from sanctioned programs for years, according to an announcement made by Hockey Canada on Wednesday.
Appeal Board Upholds Code Breaches and Mandates Suspensions
According to Hockey Canada, the three-judge independent appeal board composed of retired Justices John Laskin, Katherine Swinton, and Thomas McEwen upheld the finding that all five players violated organizational rules. A July 2025 court ruling cleared the individuals of sexual assault allegations tied to an incident with an individual identified as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada celebration in London, Ont., honoring the national junior squad’s world championship gold.
While the three former judges upheld that conclusion, the tribunal additionally advised that Alex Formenton’s ban be immediately rescinded while keeping the penalties for the remaining four athletes in place for varying durations: Cal Foote until Nov. 10 of this year, Carter Hart until Nov. 10, 2027, Dillon Dubé until Nov. 10, 2028, and Michael McLeod until Nov. 10, 2030.
Did you know? Participation in any program sanctioned by Hockey Canada remains open to be considered for all other members of the 2018 roster, with immediate effect, per the organization.
Current Status of the Suspended Players Across Professional Leagues
Having previously established professional careers in the NHL prior to the filing of charges, these suspended athletes gained the status required to ink contracts with league clubs starting Oct. 15 and became permitted to take the ice beginning Dec. 1. Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and helped them reach this year’s Stanley Cup final. Dubé became the second of the five to find NHL work when he signed with St. Louis on July 1.
McLeod played last season with Omsk Avangard of the Kontinental Hockey League. During the previous season, Foote suited up for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League, and a recent one-year agreement with Farjestad BK fell through when the Swedish squad faced backlash over the acquisition. Formenton has spent the last three seasons playing in Switzerland.
Government Reaction and Institutional Accountability
“We take note of the independent appeal board’s findings today, including that all five players were in breach of the Hockey Canada Code of Conduct,” Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s current secretary of sport, said Wednesday in a statement. “This case started a national conversation about safe sport and the problematic culture in men’s hockey. It is the voices of women and survivors, and the courage and bravery it takes to come forward, that have led to changes we are seeing in toxic culture.”
Following the public revelation in 2022 that Hockey Canada had reached a private financial agreement to resolve a legal claim with the female complainant, Pascale St. Onge, who served as Canada’s sports minister at the time, mandated an independent financial review to verify that government monies were not allocated toward the payout while simultaneously suspending federal financial support for nearly a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were the five players acquitted of sexual assault charges?
In July 2025, the group was found not guilty of sexual assault counts stemming from an interaction involving a woman referred to as “E.M.” during a 2018 Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario, held to commemorate the national junior team’s gold-medal world championship victory.
Which player received the longest suspension from Hockey Canada?
Michael McLeod will not be eligible for reinstatement until Nov. 10, 2030.
Are the suspended players allowed to play in the NHL?
Having previously established professional careers in the major league prior to the legal accusations, these athletes became eligible to put pen to paper with NHL organizations starting on October 15 and were cleared for game action as of December 1.
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