4 Hockey Players Acquitted of Assault Still Banned

Hockey Canada has upheld the suspensions of four ice hockey players who were acquitted of sexual assault charges last year. The players, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, and Carter Hart, will remain barred from representing Canada at the international level due to a breach of Hockey Canada's code of conduct.

The incident that led to the accusations took place in 2018 in London, Ontario. The players were found not guilty in July 2025. Despite their acquittal, Hockey Canada's independent appeals board ruled that the four players should remain suspended from all Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.

A fifth player, Alex Formenton, was also deemed to have broken conduct rules but is now being reinstated. Formenton is eligible for immediate reinstatement, while the other players will have to wait for varying periods of time before they can return to international competition. Foote will be eligible for reinstatement on 10 November of this year, while Hart and Dube will be eligible on 10 November 2027 and 10 November 2028 respectively, and McLeod will have to wait until 10 November 2030.

The players are still eligible to play for teams that compete in the National Hockey League (NHL), which operates separately from Hockey Canada. The NHL conducted its own investigation into the incident and allowed the players to sign contracts again for the league's teams late last year.

What's Next The ruling does not change the fact that all five players are eligible to play for NHL teams. However, their ability to represent Canada at the international level will be limited for the foreseeable future. Hockey Canada accepted the board's recommendations for continued suspensions and reinstatement dates for the five players.

The incident highlights the differences in how Hockey Canada and the NHL handle player conduct. While the NHL allowed the players to sign contracts again, Hockey Canada has taken a stricter approach, citing a breach of their code of conduct. The suspensions will have a significant impact on the players' ability to compete at the international level, with some players waiting several years before they can return to the ice.