Three accused former NHL players appear in court

LONDON, Ont. — Former NHL players Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Alex Formenton were in court during pre-trial hearings here Monday, marking their first in-person appearance.

The Superior Court jury trial is set to begin April 22 and is expected to take eight weeks, immediately following the selection of the jury. Overseeing the case will be Judge Maria Carroccia.

The case is in judicial pre-trial hearings, which could last as long as three weeks, the events of which are subject to a publication ban. Judge Bruce Thomas has been presiding over the pre-trial hearings for the case. 

Charged with one count each of sexual assault are Dube, Cal Foote, Carter Hart and Formenton. McLeod has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, including one relating to aiding someone else in the offence.

The players were not re-signed by NHL teams over the summer, making them unrestricted free agents. Dube and McLeod are playing in the KHL; McLeod is with his second KHL team, the season of which is ongoing. The other three players are not playing.

In May 2022, a report revealed that Hockey Canada had settled a civil lawsuit with a woman in London after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight men, including members of the 2018 men’s world junior team, following an event honouring the team in June 2018.

An investigation by the London Police Service was launched in the summer of 2018 and closed in February 2019, with investigators concluding that there was insufficient evidence to lay charges. After widespread scrutiny of Hockey Canada’s handling of the situation, London police reopened its investigation in July 2022.