The London (Ontario) Police Service confirmed the names of the five hockey players charged with sexual assault in a 2018 case and said Monday that one player faces two charges.
New Jersey Devils forward Michael McLeod faces the two charges. The others facing a single sexual assault charge are Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart, Devils defenseman Cal Foote, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube and former Ottawa Senators player Alex Formenton.
Those players, who are on leave from their teams, were in London, Ontario, in 2018 at a Hockey Canada gala honoring the gold-medal-winning world junior championship team.
‘After the event, the accused and several teammates met the victim at a downtown bar and later invited her to a hotel room, where the sexual assault by the individuals now charged took place,’ police chief Thai Truong said in a news conference.
The police department’s initial investigation closed in February 2019 without any charges. It was reopened in July 2022, two months after Canadian network TSN reported that May that Hockey Canada paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman who alleged in a $3.55 million lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight players in a hotel room.
‘I want to extend, on behalf of the London Police Service, my sincerest apology to the victim, to her family for the amount of time that it has taken to reach this point,’ Truong said.
What else did police say?
They said they couldn’t discuss the evidence in the case or its review of the department’s initial investigation because the matter is before the courts.
Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann of the police department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section said additional witnesses were spoken to and additional evidence was collected starting in 2022.
‘I can confirm that some of this evidence was not available when the investigation concluded in 2019,’ she said. ‘This is one investigation, not two. The evidence that was collected in 2018 and 2019 was used in combination with newly gathered evidence to form reasonable and probable grounds to charge these five individuals with sexual assault.’
She also explained the second charge against McLeod for being a party to the offense.
‘The one charge he is laid with is in relation to his own actions and the party to the offense charge is in relation to aiding someone else in committing the offense,’ she said before adding that she couldn’t provide details.
Hockey Canada launched an independent investigation in 2022 as did the NHL. Both of those investigations have been completed, though findings haven’t been released.
Dann said the multiple investigations did ‘add complexity to the case.’
Though the woman in her lawsuit mentioned eight players, Dann said, ‘We have laid out the charges that we have reasonable grounds for at this time.’
Where does the court case stand?
The first court hearing in the case was Monday and the next hearing will be April 30, according to the Associated Press.
It said prosecutors obtained an order protecting the identity of the woman as well as that of two witnesses.
Lawyers told the AP that their clients are not guilty and will defend themselves against the allegations.
What did NHL commissioner Gary Bettman say at All-Star weekend?
The league’s independent investigator talked to every member of the 2018 team but didn’t get permission to talk to the woman, he said.
Bettman said the league wouldn’t reveal its findings while the case is going on and wouldn’t decide on a response until after the court case has concluded.
He noted that the four NHL players are on leave and are free agents at season’s end.
‘I would be surprised if they’re playing while this is pending,’ Bettman said.
What did Hockey Canada say?
The 2022 TSN report led to a major shakeup at Hockey Canada. The organization said Monday it has cooperated with the London police and would continue to do so but would have no comment during the legal proceedings.
An external report has been completed but an appeal was filed in November. Until that is heard, all players from the 2018 national junior team are ineligible to play, coach, officiate or volunteer with Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.
Hockey Canada said it requires training on sexual violence and consent and has taken other steps.
“Hockey Canada recognizes that in the past we have been too slow to act and that in order to deliver the meaningful change that Canadians expect of us, we must work diligently and urgently to ensure that we are putting in place the necessary measures to regain their trust, and provide all participants with a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment on and off the ice,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer.