An independent appeals board has determined that four of five Canadian ice hockey players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges should continue to be barred from representing Canada in international competitions. The board found that the players violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, despite their legal acquittal.
The players in question are Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Carter Hart. A fifth player, Alex Formenton, was also found to have breached conduct rules but will be reinstated immediately. The group was accused of sexual assault related to an incident involving a woman known as EM in 2018, with the acquittals occurring in July 2025.
The reinstatement timelines for the suspended players vary considerably. Foote will become eligible to return on 10 November of this year, while Hart and Dube will be eligible on 10 November 2027 and 10 November 2028 respectively. McLeod faces the longest suspension, with eligibility not arriving until 10 November 2030. Officials did not provide explanations for the differing reinstatement dates.
The ruling maintains that all five players remain eligible to compete in the National Hockey League, which operates independently from Hockey Canada and conducted its own separate investigation. All five were permitted to sign contracts with NHL teams late last year. The separation between Hockey Canada’s disciplinary decision and the NHL’s determination underscores the distinct regulatory frameworks governing international and professional league play.
Canada’s secretary of sport, Adam van Koeverden, stated that the case has prompted national discussions about safe sport environments and problematic aspects of men’s hockey culture. He noted that the incident and subsequent proceedings have driven institutional changes at Hockey Canada aimed at addressing systemic issues.
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