Hockey Canada appeal board confirms code of conduct breaches by five 2018 world junior players

By Liam Tremblay — 13 August 2026 — 4 min read

An independent appeal board has affirmed that five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team violated Hockey Canada’s code of conduct. The board recommended staggered suspensions, with Michael McLeod facing the longest period away from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs, until November 2030.

Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that Alex Formenton has been immediately reinstated. Other players received varying suspension lengths: Cal Foote is suspended until November 10, 2026, Carter Hart until November 10, 2027, and Dillon Dubé until November 10, 2028.

The organization stated that these reinstatement dates were recommendations from the three-member appeal board, which Hockey Canada accepted. The board included John I. Laskin, a former justice of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, along with former Ontario Superior Court of Justice judges Katherine E. Swinton and Thomas J. McEwen.

Disciplinary process and acquittals

This ruling concludes a disciplinary process by Hockey Canada that began in 2018. This process was separate from the criminal case in London, where all five players were acquitted of sexual assault charges last year.

Hockey Canada did not release the appeal board’s reasons for its decision. The organization also did not specify which provisions of its code were breached or detail the conduct attributed to each player. Furthermore, no explanation was provided for the varying suspension lengths, from Formenton‘s immediate reinstatement to McLeod‘s additional four-plus years.

The organization clarified that the case was handled under its previous investigation and adjudication procedures, which mandate that investigative and adjudicative documents remain confidential. The appeal decision does not impact the players’ criminal acquittals.

On July 24, 2025, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia found McLeod, Formenton, Dubé, Hart, and Foote not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman identified as E.M. at a London hotel in June 2018. McLeod was also acquitted of a second charge related to being a party to an offence. The players had pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The allegations became public in May 2022 after reports indicated that Hockey Canada had quietly settled a civil lawsuit filed by E.M. against the organization, the Canadian Hockey League, and eight unnamed players. This disclosure led to parliamentary hearings, sponsor withdrawals, and significant leadership changes within Hockey Canada.

Following an eight-week trial, which included two mistrials and a shift from a jury trial to a judge-alone trial due to incidents involving defense lawyers, Justice Carroccia stated that she did not find E.M.’s evidence credible or reliable. She concluded that the Crown had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the sexual activity occurred without consent.

Distinction from criminal proceedings

The Hockey Canada proceeding applied the organization’s own code of conduct and was distinct from the criminal prosecution. A source familiar with the matter indicated that Hockey Canada’s investigation considered material not admitted as evidence in the criminal trial.

This material included a June 2018 text message exchange between Brett Howden and Taylor Raddysh, both members of the 2018 World Junior team who were not accused of criminal wrongdoing. In the days following the June 2018 incident, when it became clear that Hockey Canada was investigating, Howden reportedly texted Raddysh that Dubé had been slapping E.M.’s buttocks forcefully. Justice Carroccia excluded this message from the trial, ruling that Howden could not confirm its accuracy.

Hockey Canada investigators also reviewed the full contents of a text exchange among several players after they learned of an investigation. At one point, McLeod reportedly wrote to the group, asking what he should say if questioned about taking videos. Maxime Comtois responded, advising him to erase “all the bad video” as police were not involved. McLeod then wrote that one video showed consent, to which Comtois replied, “Keep the consent one.” This text exchange was redacted and not entered into the court record because police could not prove the existence of “bad video.”

Player careers and future implications

The five accused players have either returned to or attempted to return to professional hockey. Hart signed a two-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights and became their starting goaltender, playing in every playoff game as Vegas lost in the Stanley Cup Final. Dubé signed a one-year NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1.

Foote played last season with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves and later signed with Färjestad BK in Sweden, but the club canceled the contract two days later due to backlash from supporters and sponsors. McLeod is under contract with Avangard Omsk in the Russia-based KHL, while Formenton played last season with HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland. Foote, Formenton, and McLeod remain NHL free agents.

The NHL had suspended Hart, Formenton, Foote, Dubé, and McLeod through December 1, 2025, following their acquittal, though Hart was the only one to play in the NHL last season. The next IIHF World Championship is scheduled for May 2027, and the next best-on-best international event, the World Cup of Hockey, is in February 2028.

Hockey Canada stated that the appeal decision closes the matter. The organization also added that complaints involving national-team members are now handled through the Canadian Safe Sport program, as Hockey Canada became a full signatory to Abuse-Free Sport in 2022 and transitioned to the new system in 2025.

Source: tsn.ca