The courtroom is shown in this sketch from London, Ont., as Justice Maria Carroccia delivers her ruling in the Hockey Canada sexual-assault trial, on Thursday.Alexandra Newbould/The Canadian Press
The five players who were found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala in 2018 are ineligible to play in the National Hockey League, the league said in a statement.
“The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behavior at issue was unacceptable,” the NHL statement read. “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.”
None of of the players had previously been suspended by the league. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the NHL All-Star break in 2024 that a suspension wasn’t necessary because all five were on leave from their NHL teams at the time and would become free agents.
The NHL Players’ Association said Thursday evening that all five of the players should now be allowed to pursue their careers.
“Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were acquitted of all charges by Justice Carroccia of the Ontario Superior Court. 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 Collective Bargaining Agreement. We are addressing this dispute with the league and will have no further comment at this time.”
What to know about the Hockey Canada verdict and fallout
Read the judge’s full decision in Hockey Canada sexual-assault trial