Four players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team will remain suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs after an independent appeal board found that five former team members breached the organization’s code of conduct.
Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that it had accepted the appeal board’s recommendations concerning Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod.
All five players were acquitted in July 2025 of sexual assault charges stemming from an encounter with a woman identified as “E.M.” following a 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario.
Despite the criminal court acquittals, the independent three-member appeal board determined that all five players had breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct. The board recommended that suspensions continue for four of them, with different reinstatement dates
Michael McLeod faces the longest suspension and will not be eligible for reinstatement in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs until November 10, 2030.
Dillon Dube will become eligible on November 10, 2028, while Carter Hart will be eligible on November 10, 2027.
Cal Foote will be eligible for reinstatement on November 10, 2026.
Alex Formenton, meanwhile, is eligible for immediate reinstatement.
Hockey Canada said all other members of the 2018 world junior team are immediately eligible for consideration for participation in its sanctioned programs.
The five players had NHL careers before charges were filed. Separate from Hockey Canada’s sanctions, they have been eligible to sign NHL contracts since October 15 and to play in the league since December 1.
Hart later signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and helped the team reach this year’s Stanley Cup final, while Dube signed with St. Louis on July 1.
McLeod played last season with Omsk Avangard in the Kontinental Hockey League, while Foote played for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. Formenton has spent the past three seasons playing in Switzerland.
The controversy became public in 2022 after it emerged that Hockey Canada had reached an out-of-court settlement with the woman involved.
The federal government subsequently froze funding to Hockey Canada for almost a year, while the organization’s executives faced questioning from MPs over their handling of the case.
Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport, Adam van Koeverden, said the government acknowledged the appeal board’s finding that all five players had breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.
He said the case had contributed to a broader national discussion about safe sport and culture within men’s hockey.
Van Koeverden also said Hockey Canada has made changes since 2022, including becoming a full signatory to the Canadian Safe Sport Program, but stressed that national sport organizations must continue to be held accountable for providing safe and respectful environments.
