The alleged sexual assault involving five Canadian hockey players – Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton – during the 2018 World Junior Championships has cast a long, dark shadow over the lives and careers of rising young hockey stars.
McLeod, Dube, Hart, Foote, and Formenton were charged with sexual assault last year in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in June 2018. The incident is said to have taken place in a hotel in London, Ontario, after a Hockey Canada gala event to celebrate their gold medal win at the World Junior Championship earlier that year.
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Once celebrated as rising stars in Canada’s most revered sport, these players saw their reputations and future go upside down amid social media backlash. The incident not only stalled their professional trajectories but also tainted personal identities.
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All five players have pleaded not guilty to the charges as the verdict is set to be delivered on July 24 after the trial had officially concluded earlier this month. None of the players are currently on an NHL roster or hold an active contract with any team in the league.Michael McLeodMcLeod, once a standout in junior hockey, rose steadily through the ranks after being named captain of the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads. His most notable career milestone came in 2016 when he was selected 12th overall by the New Jersey Devils. McLeod made his NHL debut during the 2019-20 season and quickly gained recognition for his reliable two-way play.
Ryan McLeod played a pivotal role in the Devils’ 2023 Stanley Cup playoff run, scoring the decisive goal in Game 7 to eliminate the New York Rangers. It marked a highlight in a career-best season for McLeod, who tallied 26 points over 80 games. Following his strong performance, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Devils in July 2023.
But his booming career took a U-turn when he was granted indefinite leave of absence from the Devils on January 24, 2024. Few days later London Police Service charged McLeod on two counts of sexual assault.
Following his ouster from the NHL, McLeod continued his professional career overseas, signing with Barys Astana in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Later in the 2024-25 season, he made a move to Avangard Omsk, seeking a fresh start amid ongoing legal proceedings.
Dillon Dube
After an impressive junior career, Dube entered the NHL spotlight when the Calgary Flames selected him 56th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract in March 2017 and was assigned to the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat. Dube made his NHL debut in October 2018 against the Vancouver Canucks.
One of his standout moments came during the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers, when he scored in Calgary’s 4-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. In August 2021, he signed a three-year, $6.9 million extension with the Flames.
However, Dube’s career took a dramatic turn during the 2023-24 season. In January, the Flames announced that Dube would take an indefinite leave of absence to focus on his mental health. Days later, he was formally charged with one count of sexual assault by the London Police Service in connection with an alleged 2018 incident.
Following the charges, the Flames issued a statement saying that they were unaware of any pending legal matters at the time Dube requested leave. Post that, Dube signed a one-year contract on July 1, 2024 with Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Carter Hart
Once considered one of Canada’s most promising young goaltenders, Hart now finds his career at a crossroads after being charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault incident dating back to 2018. Hart, who rose to prominence as a standout netminder for Canada Junior team and later the Philadelphia Flyers, saw his professional trajectory abruptly halted as the investigation unfolded.
Prior to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Hart was widely regarded as one of the top goaltending prospects. The Flyers selected Hart 48th overall in the second round, making him the first goaltender taken in that year’s draft. He went on to sign an entry-level contract with the Flyers on October 2, marking the beginning of what was expected to be a promising NHL career.
Hart made an impressive NHL debut on December 18, 2018, backstopping the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. His early career showed great promise, and in August 2021, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Flyers, carrying an average annual value of $3.979 million.
Hart’s performance remained solid, including a standout 29-save shutout against the Arizona Coyotes on November 2, 2021. However, that game would ultimately mark the final professional appearance of his career to date.
Hart was later charged with one count of sexual assault in connection with the alleged 2018 Hockey Canada incident, a development that abruptly derailed his career. Following the charge, he did not return to the Flyers for the remainder of the season.
As his three-year deal expired, Hart became a restricted free agent, but the Flyers chose not to extend a qualifying offer. As a result, he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2024, leaving his NHL future – and reputation – uncertain amid ongoing legal proceedings.
Cal Foote
Foote, an American-born Canadian defenseman, is currently playing in Slovakia for Liptovský Mikuláš. A native of Colorado, Foote was selected 14th overall in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team in 2018.
Foote made his NHL debut in the 2021 season opener – a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks – and was part of the Lightning squad that went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. After developing within Tampa Bay’s system, he earned a full-time NHL role during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 26 regular-season games and registering one goal and two assists.
On February 26, 2023, during his third season with the Lightning, Foote was traded to the Nashville Predators along with five future draft picks in exchange for forward Tanner Jeannot. He later had a brief stint with the New Jersey Devils before moving overseas, due to alleged sexual assault charge, to continue his career in the Slovakian league.
Once seen as a promising NHL blueliner, Foote’s journey has since taken an unexpected turn, compounded by ongoing legal issues related to the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault investigation.
Alex Formenton
Formenton, a dynamic left winger, rose to prominence when he was selected 47th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Invited to Ottawa’s main training camp that same year, Formenton impressed the organization and was soon signed to a three-year entry-level contract. He made his NHL debut on October 7, 2017, becoming the youngest player to appear in a game for the modern Senators franchise. Formenton earned a regular roster spot in the 2018-19 season and scored his first NHL goal in a game against the Arizona Coyotes.
Over three seasons with Ottawa, he established himself as a reliable two-way forward, particularly excelling as a penalty killer. His breakout campaign came in 2021-22, when he posted 18 goals and 32 points across 79 games.
However, Formenton’s NHL career stalled after the Senators declined to re-sign him following that season. Left unsigned, he became ineligible to play in the 2022-23 NHL season. I
In December 2022, he signed with Swiss club HC Ambrì-Piotta, though the team later announced his contract would be reviewed pending the outcome of an investigation into the alleged 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault incident.
He later signed a two-month contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta ahead of the 2023-24 season that ended in December 2023. In January 2024, he was officially charged with one count of sexual assault related to the incident.
With his hockey future uncertain, Formenton stepped away from the sport entirely in 2025, and began working in construction in his hometown.