Five acquitted 2018 Canadian junior players ineligible to play in NHL pending review of judge’s findings

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have provided updates on the statuses of the five players from the 2018 Canadian World Junior team accused of sexual assault who were found not guilty on Thursday by Justice Maria Carroccia.

NHL Statement: https://t.co/pmZcoS81IM pic.twitter.com/mfJ6hHkkZ5

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 24, 2025

Former NHLers Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod have been suspended from the league since January 2024 when they were ordered to surrender to London, Ontario police due to charges in connection to an alleged 2018 sexual assault. The trial began in April 2025, with the final ruling occurring on Thursday, where all five players were found not guilty – Dube, Foote, Formenton and Hart of one count, and McLeod of two counts, one for sexual assault and the other for aiding others in committing a sexual assault.

However, according to the NHL, the ruling will not automatically grant the players a return to playing in the league, as they will be looking over the findings and determining for themselves whether the players will be allowed to play.

“The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behavior at issue was unacceptable,” said the league in the statement. “We will be reviewing and considering the judge’s findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league.”

In response, the NHL Players’ Association released a statement backing the players, claiming that they should be allowed to resume their careers and that the NHL’s methods are inconsistent with procedures established in the CBA.

“Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were acquitted of all charges by Justice Carroccia of the Ontario Superior Court,” said the Players’ Association in their statement. “After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work. The NHL’s declaration that the Players are ‘ineligible’ to play pending its further analysis of the Court’s findings is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA. We are addressing this dispute with the League and will have no further comment at this time.​”

Right now, we don’t know how long the NHL’s review will take, as well as what the Players’ Association’s plan is to address the dispute with the league.

Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod are unrestricted free agents, as their respective teams did not qualify them after they were charged in 2024. Formenton, who hasn’t played in the NHL since 2022, remains a restricted free agent with the Ottawa Senators.