Sexual Assault Trial of 5 Former World Junior Hockey Players Begins in London, Ontario

The long-awaited sexual assault trial involving five ex-members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey team officially began in London, Ontario on April 22, 2025. Jury members are now being selected for an eight-week trial in Ontario’s Superior Court.

The Accused and the Allegations

Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, and Alex Formenton each face one count of sexual assault. McLeod faces a second charge as a party to the offence. These charges stem from an alleged group sexual assault at a hotel in London following a Hockey Canada gala in 2018.

E.M. reported the incident to police in 2018. The case closed in 2019 but resurfaced in 2022 after a lawsuit and public scrutiny.

High-Profile Trial with National Implications

The accused were all part of the gold-medal-winning 2018 Canadian junior team, and each went on to play professional hockey. At the time charges were laid:

• McLeod and Foote were with the New Jersey Devils
• Dubé played for the Calgary Flames
• Hart was the Philadelphia Flyers’ goalie
• Formenton signed with the Ottawa Senators but played in Switzerland.

Foote and Hart are no longer active in pro hockey. McLeod and Dubé have since moved to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and Formenton is now reportedly working construction in Barrie, Ontario.

A Complicated and Emotionally Charged Legal Battle

Legal experts expect the case to be challenging for the complainant. Each of the five accused has their own lawyer, all of whom will have the right to cross-examine the complainant in detail.

“This is going to be a tough few weeks for her,” said Daphne Gilbert, a law professor at the University of Ottawa. “She will face a barrage of skilled lawyers trying to test her credibility.”

Kat Owens, project director at the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, emphasized that Canadian law requires clear, ongoing consent, with no room for implied or blanket approval.

A Turning Point for Canadian Hockey?

They describe the trial as a “historic moment” for both Canadian sport and the justice system. Walter DeKeseredy, a sociologist who studies violence in sports, believes the outcome could significantly influence how hockey handles sexual misconduct in the future.

“This isn’t just about one team,” he noted. “It’s about how we deal with misconduct in sport culture across Canada.”

The case has also sparked broader conversations about Hockey Canada’s accountability, use of secret settlement funds, and the culture surrounding junior hockey programs.

What Happens Next?

As the trial unfolds, public interest continues to grow. Advocates like Jessie Rodger, head of Anova (a London-based support agency), stress the importance of supporting survivors during this highly visible legal process.

“We’re already preparing for more crisis calls,” Rodger shared. “People are triggered by stories like this — not just because of the current case, but because it can bring back memories of their own.”

Support services are urging survivors and those affected by the case to reach out, whether the trauma is recent or long past.

How do you think this trial will impact the future of Canadian hockey culture and survivor support systems?

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/world-junior-hockey-sexual-assault-trial-london-1.7511439
• https://globalnews.ca/news/11141466/world-juniors-sexual-assault-trial
• https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/jury-selection-set-to-start-in-former-world-junior-hockey-players-sex-assault-trial