Published 4:28 pm Wednesday, August 12, 2026 By Lauren Collins/Black Press Four of the players from Hockey Canada’s 2018 National Junior Team remain suspended, while another has been reinstated immediately after an appeal board determined they did breach the organization’s code of conduct. An independent appeal board says the five players from the 2018 junior men’s team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, issuing recommended suspensions and reinstatement dates, according to a news release from Hockey Canada Wednesday (Aug. 12). Hockey Canada accepted the recommendations. The five – Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton – were acquitted in July 2025 in a sexual assault trial after Justice Maria Carroccia raised questions about inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony. The trial last eight weeks. All five had pleaded not guilty to the alleged sexual assault in London, Ont. in 2018. They had played on Canada’s national junior team at the time and later went on to play in the NHL. Four of them were still in the NHL when charges were laid, but went on indefinite leave. The fifth, Formenton, was playing for a Swiss team at the time, and also went on leave. Foote is suspended until Nov. 10, 2026, Hart is suspended until Nov. 10, 2027, Dubé is suspended until Nov. 10, 2028 and McLeod is suspended until Nov. 10, 2030. Formenton will be reinstated immediately. The suspensions only apply to international competition with Hockey Canada. Hart recently played in the Stanley Cup final with the Vegas Golden Knights. The players had been formally suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs, pending completion of the appeal process, the organization said. The investigation didn’t find that any other player on the 2018 team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct. That means those players are still eligible for consideration to participate in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program, effective immediately. However, Hockey Canada says any player under consideration to play on a national team will be subject to the organization’s “enhanced screening process.” That process will continue to include a third-party review of the findings regarding the 2018 National Junior Team before being eligible to represent Canada internationally. Hockey Canada became a full signatory to Abuse-Free Sport and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner when it began in 2022 and transitioned in 2025 to the new Canadian Safe Sport program. The program receives any maltreatment complaints involving Hockey Canada national team members. The appeal board was made up of John I. Laskin, Katherine E. Swinton and Thomas J. McEwen. Hockey Canada says the board’s decision brings the matter to a close. The code of conduct investigation began in 2018 under Hockey Canada’s previous investigation and adjudication procedures, the release says.
5 players from 2018 junior team breached Hockey Canada code of conduct
