Hockey Canada has decided to maintain the suspensions handed down to five former NHL players who were part of the 2018 World Junior team, even after they were cleared of sexual assault charges in 2025.
A contentious decision
The players — Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod — had their contracts put on hold by the governing body, with penalties ranging from immediate reinstatement for Formenton to a term that stretches until 2030 for one of his teammates.
According to the independent appeal board, only these five individuals were found to have breached the organization’s code of conduct, while the rest of the roster escaped sanction.
Staggered penalties
The sanctions were initially imposed before the athletes returned to professional play; Formenton was reinstated straight away, whereas Foote, Hart, Dube and McLeod will remain suspended until November 10, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030 respectively.
Since their reinstatement on December 1, 2025, the former juniors have taken divergent paths: Hart now skates for the Vegas Golden Knights, Foote and Dube have appeared in the AHL, Formenton is playing in Switzerland, and McLeod continues his career in the KHL.
The decision has sparked debate over the balance between legal acquittals and internal disciplinary measures, raising questions about how sports bodies navigate off‑ice conduct.