Editor’s Note: The following story deals with sexual assault, and may be distressing for some readers.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, those in Canada can find province-specific centres, crisis lines and services here. For readers in America, a list of resources and references for survivors and their loved ones can be found here.
LONDON, Ont. — Court proceedings have been adjourned until April 30 in the case against five players charged with group sexual assault in June 2018 of a woman by members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team.
Lawyers representing Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, and Michael McLeod attended Monday’s arraignment — the first court appearance pertaining to this case — via video conference. None of the players were present Monday. Because of the adjournment, no charges were read in court and no pleas were entered.
Assistant Crown attorney Heather Donkers said during the appearance that lawyers for each player will receive disclosure, consisting of a package of “substantial” evidence collected by London police during their investigation on Monday or Tuesday. The contents of this disclosure will be reviewed and discussed during the next hearing.
Justice of the Peace Elizabeth Oudekerk ordered a publication ban on this case, which prohibits the publishing of any information that could lead to the identities of the alleged victim and two witnesses being made public.
Dube, Foote and Hart, all 25, and Formenton, 24, were each charged with one count of sexual assault last week. McLeod, 25, was charged with two counts of sexual assault. All five individuals surrendered to the London Police Service, separately, within the last 10 days and were released following charges being laid.
The charges come more than a year after the London police re-opened their investigation into the alleged incident on July 22, 2022. An initial investigation was launched in the summer of 2018 and concluded in February 2019 without charges being laid.
In May 2022, it was revealed that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman in London, Ont., after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight men, including members of the 2018 men’s world junior team, in June 2018.
Criticism of Hockey Canada’s handling of the alleged assault — plus allegations of another one involving the 2003 Canadian team at the World Junior tournament in Halifax — prompted an overhaul of the governing body’s leadership. Board chair Michael Brind’Amour resigned in August 2022, followed by interim chair Andrea Skinner in early October. Three days later CEO Scott Smith departed. Hockey Canada’s board members also resigned to make way for a new slate of directors.
Those changes came after a series of parliamentary committee hearings in Ottawa and almost all sponsors suspending financial support of the tournament and Hockey Canada’s world junior program. Additionally, eight provincial associations halted fee transfers and/or called for wholesale changes to the organization.
Hockey Canada officials testified on Parliament Hill in July 2022 that the organization had paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements related to sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989, not including the 2022 payout to the London plaintiff.
Revelations of a fund partially maintained by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual assault and abuse claims, prompted further criticism of Hockey Canada’s leadership.
Hockey Canada subsequently launched its own investigation of the alleged group sexual assault, led by lawyer Danielle Robitaille of Toronto law firm Heinen Hutchison Robitaille. The Robitaille report was obtained by London police during the course of their relaunched investigation.
Dube is a member of the Calgary Flames, Hart is with the Philadelphia Flyers, Foote and McLeod are with the New Jersey Devils, and Formenton is with Swiss league team Ambri-Piotta. All players were granted leaves of absence from their pro clubs prior to being charged.
