Five former Canadian World Junior ice hockey players—Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart—will learn their fate on Thursday following a trial concerning a 2018 sexual assault in London, Ontario. The complainant, known as EM, alleges the players engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with her after a consensual encounter with McLeod escalated. The defence maintains EM consented to all sexual activity. The trial, originally heard by a jury, was ultimately decided by Justice Maria Carroccia alone after a mistrial and jury dismissal due to alleged misconduct by defence lawyers. The case has prompted a wider discussion about consent in Canada and the culture within Hockey Canada, which faced significant scrutiny and lost sponsors following a quiet settlement with EM in 2022.

The trial included graphic testimony, text messages suggesting a coordinated effort to manage the aftermath of the incident, and videos showing EM seemingly consenting afterward, which she explained as a coping mechanism. The Crown argued the focus is not whether EM removed herself from the situation, but if she consented to each act. The defence countered that EM’s actions implied consent. The players, all of whom had NHL contracts at the time of the allegations, have been on leave from their respective teams and their contracts have since expired. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated he will not comment on their potential return to the league until the judicial process is complete.

Impact Statement: The verdict will have significant implications for the accused players, Hockey Canada, and the ongoing national conversation surrounding consent and sexual assault in Canada. The case's legal interpretation of consent may also impact future cases.