Appeals Board Decision
The independent appeals tribunal in Canada has confirmed the suspensions of four former national team members — Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote — who were acquitted of sexual assault in July 2025. The board also reinstated Alex Formenton, though he remains under a separate conduct sanction.
The case dates back to 2018, when the players were accused of assaulting a woman identified only as EM in a hotel room in London, Ontario. According to the court record, EM had initially consented to intimacy with McLeod but later reported feeling intoxicated and fearful, alleging that the encounter turned non‑consensual. Justice Maria Carroccia ruled that EM’s testimony could not be relied upon as credible, concluding that she had not consented to all of the sexual acts alleged.
While the criminal courts cleared the men of wrongdoing, Hockey Canada determined that each of them had breached the organization’s code of conduct. Consequently, McLeod, Dube, Hart and Foote received suspensions that will keep them ineligible for international competition until 2030, 2028, 2027 and 2024 respectively. Formenton, who violated the same conduct rules, was allowed to return to play after a shorter period, a decision that reflects the board’s nuanced approach to punishment.
The distinction between Hockey Canada’s disciplinary authority and the NHL’s jurisdiction has added another layer of complexity. The NHL operates independently and has not altered the players’ eligibility for league competition, meaning they remain free to sign contracts in North America despite the suspensions from Hockey Canada.
The ruling has reignited a national conversation about safe sport and the culture within men’s hockey. Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s secretary of sport, underscored the necessity of centering survivor voices, while Hockey Canada has publicly acknowledged systemic failures and pledged to implement reforms. The debate continues to shape policy discussions across the sport.