Organization accepts appeal board's recommendations, says hockey players subject to 'enhanced screening process'
An independent appeal board has confirmed five members of the 2018 National Junior Team breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct.
The board – composed of John Laskin, Katherine Swinton and Thomas McEwen – confirmed the breaches following review of an independent adjudicative panel's report dated Nov. 10, 2023.
Acquitted last year of sexual assault, the five players have been suspended, and four will remain so as Hockey Canada accepted the board's recommended sanctions and reinstatement dates for each player.
Alex Formenton was reinstated immediately. Meanwhile, remaining suspended are:
- Cal Foote (until Nov. 10, 2026)
- Carter Hart (until November 10, 2027)
- Dillon Dubé (until Nov. 10, 2028)
- Michael McLeod (until Nov. 10, 2030)
All five had been formally suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs pending completion of the appeal process.
Hockey Canada said its investigation "did not conclude that any other player on the 2018 National Junior Team breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct."
Those players are now eligible for consideration to participate in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program, effective immediately, according to the organisation.
The allegations date to June 2018, when the players were in London, Ont., for a Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf event celebrating the team's world junior gold medal. According to the woman's civil claim and later court testimony, she went to McLeod's hotel room after the gala, had sex with him, and said several more players then arrived at the room.
She alleged the men forced her to perform sexual acts while intoxicated, in what her lawyers characterized in a 2022 statement of claim as an assault involving as many as eight players.
The woman filed a statement of claim seeking $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and eight unnamed players, which became public via TSN reporting and triggered parliamentary hearings into Hockey Canada's handling of the file, according to Global News.
Screening, confidentiality
Any player considered for a national team role remains subject to what Hockey Canada called an "enhanced screening process," which will continue to include third-party review of the 2018 findings before a player is eligible to represent Canada internationally.
The investigation began in 2018 under Hockey Canada's previous Investigation and Adjudication Procedures, which the organisation said "provides that the investigative and adjudicative processes are confidential" and requires Hockey Canada "to hold documents relating to an investigation in confidence to the extent possible."
Hockey Canada thanked the investigator and panel and appeal board members "for their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the investigative and adjudicative processes and the significant amount of time they devoted to this matter."
Organisational response
Hockey Canada said its board and leadership have "implemented significant actions to help transform the culture and safety of hockey since 2022," including prioritising education, training, sport integrity and governance.
The organisation became a full signatory to Abuse-Free Sport and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner in 2022, and transitioned in 2025 to the Canadian Safe Sport program, which now receives maltreatment complaints involving national team members.
Hockey Canada also pointed to a July 2026 Action Plan update and rising player registration nationwide, saying growth "increases the need for hockey to be more safe, welcoming and inclusive."
In 2022, Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge announced that funding for Hockey Canada had been suspended, following a sexual assault allegation case. Then, the organisation lost its director and interim chair, Andrea Skinner, who resigned as the organization continued to receive calls to shake up their leadership.
Hockey Canada had also released an Action Plan in a bid to "eliminate toxic behaviour in and around Canada's game" as it faced criticism of its handling of sexual assault allegations against its players.
