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Five former members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team — Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Michael McLeod — were acquitted in July 2025 on sexual assault charges stemming from an encounter at a 2018 Hockey Canada party in London, Ontario.
Since then, the NHL has reinstated all five, allowing them to play starting Dec. 1, 2025. Hockey Canada’s appeals board later ruled the five violated the governing body’s code of conduct and extended his ban from the national program for three out of five games.
With Formenton recently signing with the Edmonton Oilers, here’s a look at where the five players stand since tryouts ended.
ALEX FORMENTON
The 26-year-old signed a one-year, US$850,000 contract with the Oilers on September 9 after spending three of the previous four seasons in Switzerland with HC Ambri-Piotta and another season outside of hockey.
Formenton is the only player of the five who is immediately eligible for readmission to a Hockey Canada-sanctioned program following the appeals board’s decision.
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His signing sparked backlash in Edmonton, including an online petition calling on the club to cancel the deal and protests outside Rogers Arena on Saturday, when the Oilers opened their pre-season schedule by not visiting Winnipeg.
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The Oilers defended the action, citing Formenton’s release, his reinstatement and what the team called a “lengthy due diligence process.”
CARTER HART
The netminder was the first of the five to return to the NHL, signing a two-year, $4 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in October 2025.
He returned to action on December 2 and helped Vegas reach the 2026 Stanley Cup final with a 12-4 playoff record, 2.22 goals-against average, and .924 save percentage leading to the title series against Carolina.
He remains suspended by Hockey Canada until November 10, 2027.
DILLON DUBÉ
The center became the second of five players to return to the NHL when he signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Louis Blues on July 1.
Dubé signed the deal after agreeing to a professional tryout with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, in December. He had 20 goals and 17 assists in 46 regular season games with the Thunder, then added five goals and three assists in 12 playoff games.
He joined the organization after playing for Minsk Dynamo of the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League in 2024-25.
Dubé remains suspended by Hockey Canada until November 10, 2028.
CAL’S FEET
Foote signed an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves in December 2025, where the defenseman tallied four goals and 14 assists in 48 games.
He signed a one-year contract with Swedish club Farjestad BK in July, but the deal was canceled two days later.
Foote is the next player eligible to be reinstated by Hockey Canada, with his suspension set to expire on November 10.
MICHAEL MCLEOD
The center signed a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL in October 2025.
McLeod previously split the 2024-25 KHL season between Omsk and Barys Astana.
He is the only one of the five who has not played in North America since tryouts ended.
Hockey Canada imposed the longest ban on McLeod, making him ineligible for reinstatement until November 10, 2030.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
