NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Five members of the Ice Hockey Team of the 2018 Canada 2018 Canada 2018 team were acquitted in a case of sexual assault after a judge in Ontario said that prosecutors could not respect the burden of proof.
Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex formenton, Dillon Dubé and Callan Fote all pleaded not guilty of sexual assault in a meeting that took place in a London hotel room in Ontario, in the early hours of June 19, 2018.
The players, now aged 25 to 27, were in London at the time for a gala and a golf tournament marking their junior world championship earlier that year.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
Canadian fans celebrate during the first period of a hockey match at the game of 4 nations against Finland on February 17, 2025, in Boston. (AP photo / Charles Krupa)
The judge of the Superior Court, Maria Carroccia, said that she had not found the testimony of the credible complainant.
The victim met the players in a downtown London bar after a Canada hockey event on June 18, 2018. The victim was then invited to a hotel room where he was sexually assaulted.
The woman said in May that she was naked, drunk and frightened when four men presented themselves unexpectedly in her room at the Hotel London Delta in armor and estimated that the only “safe” option was to do what they wanted. The prosecutors argued that the players had done what they wanted without taking any measures to ensure that it voluntarily consents to sexual acts.
Team Canada poses after defeating Sweden during the gold medal match in the World Junior IIHF championship at Keybank Center on January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, Ny Canada, defeated Sweden 3-1. (Images Kevin Hoffman / Getty)
The NHL features Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl Shock Beer League Game as a surprise players
“I made the choice to dance with them and drink at the bar. I did not choose to have them do what they did at the hotel,” she said.
Defense lawyers contraindicated him for days and suggested that he participate actively or launch a sexual activity because she wanted a “wild night”. Two short videos of the complainant taken by McLeod the night of the game were played in court. In one, the woman says it was “completely consensual”, even if she told court that it was not what she really felt.
All players have experienced indefinite leave, and none is on a NHL list or has an active contract with a League team.
Fans hold the Canadian flag. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
The NHL launched its own investigation in 2022. The officials undertook to publish the conclusions, although Commissioner Gary Bettman declared in February which would depend on what the League can say given the legal proceedings.
