In response to reports of sexual assault charges, five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team have taken indefinite leaves of absence from their current clubs. Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames, and former NHL player Alex Formenton, now with a European team, are among those granted leave.
The reasons for these absences vary. The Flyers and Swiss club HC Ambri-Piotta cited personal reasons for Hart and Formenton, with Formenton permitted to return to Canada. The Flames cited Dube’s mental health, while the Devils did not provide a reason for McLeod and Foote’s leaves.
London, Ontario, police initiated an investigation in 2022 after Hockey Canada settled a lawsuit involving a woman who reported being sexually assaulted by eight members of the gold medal-winning 2018 team. A recent report suggested that five players from that team have been asked to surrender to police in connection with these charges.
London Police, when contacted, neither confirmed nor denied the report but announced a news conference on February 5 to share further details regarding the sexual assault investigation from 2018.
The Flyers and the NHL Players’ Association acknowledged the seriousness of the matter but refrained from commenting further until the outcomes of the investigations are made public. The NHL initiated its investigation in 2022 and pledged to make the findings public.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly mentioned the league’s intention to issue a statement when appropriate, indicating the ongoing communication with the London police. The situation is a significant blow for Hockey Canada, which has undergone structural changes and lost major sponsors due to previous scandals.
The severity of the allegations and the potential implications for the involved players remain uncertain pending the outcomes of the investigations.
