Four NHLers, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote, have been directed to surrender to London Police on charges of sexual assault.
Four NHLers Directed To Surrender
Four NHLers – Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube & Cal Foote – have been directed to surrender to London police to be charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident that occurred during a 2018 Hockey Canada event.
From @rwesthead:… pic.twitter.com/8JeYMibBJt
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 30, 2024
According to TSN’s Rick Westhead, the four players placed on indefinite leave by their respective clubs were ordered by London Police to surrender on Jan. 24. They will be charged with sexual assault in relation to a June 2018 Hockey Canada Event. Alex Formenton, a former member of the Ottawa Senators, surrendered on Jan. 28 to be officially charged.
The London Police Dept. will hold a press conference on Monday, Feb. 5, to officially release a statement regarding the surrenders and an update on the case. In May 2022, Hockey Canada quietly settled a $3.55 million lawsuit with E.M. without consultation from the players. This led to a major nationwide backlash, which caused a complete leadership change.
All of the players involved are 25 years old.
What Will Happen Now?
Gary Ellis, the former head of Toronto Police’s sex crimes unit, spoke with TSN in an interview and said that the players will be photographed, fingerprinted, and directed to sign an undertaking which orders them not to have any contact with the alleged victim. He also said the trial is expected not to take place before 2026.
As for the players, there will most likely be a prison sentence if they are found to be guilty. Although, nothing has been proven yet.
Under the Canadian Criminal Code, the penalty for a sexual assault charge is a maximum of 10 years for an indictment and 18 months for a summary charge.
As for the four NHLers, their North American hockey careers are likely over unless other evidence is revealed. They may get opportunities outside of North America, but it will all depend on the next few years and the result of the trial.
MAIN PHOTO: © Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
