Update on Former Hockey Canada Players Acquitted in Sexual Assault Case: NHL Decision Pending
The status of five former Hockey Canada players who were acquitted in a high-profile sexual assault case is expected to be decided soon, according to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. The players, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote, were acquitted in July in London, Ont. The ruling came after a lengthy trial that sparked discussions about consent and hockey culture in Canada. Following the verdict, the NHL stated that the players are currently ineligible to play in the league pending a review of the case. The NHL Players' Association criticized this decision, and Hockey Canada confirmed that the athletes remain suspended from all sanctioned programs. Daly mentioned during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas that a decision on the players' status is expected in the near future, emphasizing that the league is taking the matter seriously and continuing its review.