US Edition
NHL Says Acquitted Players 'Ineligible' to Play in League Pending Further Review
LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA, JUL 25 – The NHL maintains suspensions for five players acquitted in a 2018 sexual assault trial while it reviews the case, despite NHL Players' Association objections to the ineligibility.
- On Thursday, July 24, 2025, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted five players, and the NHL said they are ineligible pending review.
- During a Hockey Canada gala in June 2018, the five players faced sexual assault allegations in a London, Ontario, hotel encounter.
- The NHLPA said they should have the opportunity to return after missing a full season, calling the decision `inconsistent`, and McLeod and Dube spent the 2024-25 season in the Kontinental Hockey League .
- Alternately, they may pursue European league deals and American teams may be more open to signing them, Mac Ross said.
- Looking beyond the verdict, policy concerns emerge as Ann Pegoraro said the NHL has seldom enforced strict penalties for sexual misconduct, and the current eligibility ruling conflicts with its collective bargaining agreement’s discipline framework.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Uncertain NHL Futures for Players Acquitted in Sexual Assault Case
The professional futures of the five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team acquitted of sexual assault in a London, Ont., courtroom this week remain up in the air as the NHL conducts an analysis of the ruling. The NHL issued a statement within hours of the judge’s not-guilty ruling for Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton to say the players are currently ineligible to return to the league. “The al…
NHL Says Acquitted Players Ineligible To Return Before Review Is Conducted; NHLPA Challenges Stance
On Thursday, five former NHL players — Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote — were found not guilty on sexual assault charges.The charges stemmed from an alleged 2018 incident that followed a celebration of the championship-winning Canadian World Junior Championship team, of which all five were members.However, after the verdict was revealed, the NHL stated the players should not expect to be on NHL rosters, at…
All 5 players acquitted in Hockey Canada sex assault case ruled ineligible by NHL
The NHL says the five players acquitted of sexual assault in an encounter with a woman at a London, Ont., hotel room seven years ago are ineligible to play in the league while it reviews the judge’s findings.
It will be Commissioner Gary Bettman's decision.
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