Hockey Canada will be looking to finally put the high-profile sexual assault scandal involving several members of the 2018 world junior team behind it after an independent appeal board ruled that five players breached the organization’s code of conduct.
However, details of the ruling only raise further questions, as each member of the five — Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod — received a different length of suspension.
How long are the players suspended?
According to Wednesday’s news release, Formenton has been “reinstated immediately” while McLeod received the longest ban, which runs until Nov. 10, 2030.
Foote’s suspension lasts until the same date in 2026, Hart until 2027 and Dube until 2028.
Many hockey fans questioned the decision on the lengths of the punishments.
“Trying to understand the suspension dates. This implies Formenton is less guilty and McLeod’s conduct more egregious. Is that correct?” one user asked on X.
“Interesting that Hockey Canada has deemed there to be 5 different levels of breach of conduct,” another commented.
The suspensions relate only to Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs and are pending the completion of the appeal process.
What happened during the trial?
The five players had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman known as “E.M.” during at a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont., in 2018.
After a lengthy, high-profile trial the players were acquitted on sexual assault charges in July 2025.
All five players were reinstated by the National Hockey League and eligible to play as of Dec. 1, 2025, though only Hart has made an appearance in the NHL after signing with the Vegas Golden Knights.
In July, Dube signed as a free agent with St. Louis and could return this fall.
McLeod has competed in the Kontinental Hockey League, Foote in the AHL and Formenton has spent the past three seasons playing in Switzerland.
Were any other players suspended?
The board’s investigation also found that no other players from the 2018 junior team had been involved in the breach.
“As the independent investigation did not conclude that any other player on the 2018 national junior team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, those players are eligible for consideration to participate in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program, effective immediately,” the statement said, adding that those players will be subject to an “enhanced screening process.”
Hockey Canada thanked the investigator and the members of the independent panel and board involved for their time and ” commitment to maintaining the integrity of the investigative and adjudicative processes.”
“We recognize our role and responsibility to be a leader in delivering a sport that is rooted in safety, inclusiveness and respect,” the organization wrote.