MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 04: Carter Hart #31 of Team Canada looks on during the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinal game against Team Sweden at the Bell Centre on January 4, 2017, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team Canada defeated Team Sweden 5-2 and moved on to the gold medal round. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart has been named as one of the five players called to surrender to police in London, Ont., to be charged for their involvement in the alleged sexual assault that happened during a Hockey Canada event in June 2018, reports TSN’s Rick Westhead.
Carter Hart’s lawyers (Savard Foy LLP) have confirmed he has been charged with one count of sexual assault and say he will provide a “full response to this false allegation in the proper forum, a court of law.” Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.
Since taking an indefinite leave of absence citing personal reasons, Hart and four others are now facing serious disciplinary action for their involvement in the 2018 Team Canada World Juniors sexual assault scandal.
TSN’s Rick Westhead reported on Tuesday that four NHLers – Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube & Cal Foote – have been publicly 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.
On January 28, Robyn Doolittle of The Globe and Mail reported Alex Formenton, a former NHL player with the Ottawa Senators and 2018 junior player, turned himself in to London police. Beginning a domino effect of others turning themselves in.
“The London Police have charged several players, including Alex Formenton, in connection with an accusation made in 2018,” Mr. Formenton’s legal team said in a statement to The Globe and Mail. “Alex will vigorously defend his innocence and asks that people not rush to judgment without hearing all of the evidence.”
Mike McLeod has officially been charged with sexual assault by London police for his involvement. McLeod’s lawyer told The Athletic, “He will be pleading not guilty and will vigorously defend his case.”
A lawyer representing Calgary Flames forward Dillion Dube confirms he has been charged with sexual assault and says he will plead not guilty, TSN reports. “He will plead not guilty and maintain his innocence. He will defend the allegations in court.”
Lastly, Cal Foote’s counsel has spoken out on his behalf. “I can confirm that my client, Cal Foote, was charged with sexual assault. Cal is innocent of the charge and will defend himself against this allegation to clear his name. What is most critical at this time is the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial that everyone in Canada is entitled to. As the matter is before the Court, I ask that Cal’s and his family’s privacy be respected. There will be no further comment at this time.
Court documents obtained by TSN and CTV National News confirm Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote have all been charged with sexual assault and were arrested on January 26, 2024.
If Hart or the other four individuals had plans to leave the country, they would need a valid US Entry Waiver. “If a Canadian wants to enter the United States with a pending criminal charge, the only way they can legally avoid the risk of a border denial is if they have a valid US Entry Waiver.”
Gary Ellis, former head of Toronto Police Service’s sex crimes unit, told TSN that the players would be photographed, fingerprinted, and directed to sign an undertaking not to have contact with the alleged victim, Rick Westhead reported.
A trial for the investigation isn’t expected to happen before 2026. Adding almost another two years onto an already six-year-long legal issue.
In the spring of 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Hockey Canada. A woman alleged eight players — including members of the 2018 World Junior team — sexually assaulted her in a hotel room following a team event in London in June 2018. Hart’s attorney Scott Fenton and a select few from the team facing these allegations told the Toronto Star in 2022 that they did not engage in the 2018 Team Canada rape scandal.
Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere led off a press conference last Wednesday with a statement regarding Carter Hart and the news surrounding Team Canada prior to the official falling out of the five listed players: Dillon Dube (CAL), Carter Hart (PHI), Alex Formenton, former Ottawa Senator, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote (NJD).
“We are aware of this morning’s press reports on a very serious matter. We will respond appropriately when the outcomes of the investigations are made public. The NHL has been very clear that teams should refer all investigation-related questions to them. Danny Briere told the media. “In the meantime, members of the organization, including Flyers players, will not be commenting any further. That’s all we can say at the moment.”
Robyn Doolittle of The Globe and Mail reported five members of the 2018 World Junior team have been summoned to turn themselves in to the London ONT Police Service in a set period of time.
The woman who made the allegation sought more than $3.5 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the unnamed players. Hockey Canada settled the case for an undisclosed amount in May of 2022. In 2023, London police filed an application to reopen the case with the Ontario Court of Justice. Stating they had reasonable grounds to believe five members of the 2018 team had indeed sexually assaulted the woman.
Pretty quickly, media and fans alike began connecting the inevitable dots. Four NHL and one ex-player now in Europe from the 2018 team took leaves of absence from their respective clubs, all in the span of 72 hours. London Police followed shortly after, requesting the five players to present themselves in Ontario.
Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames takes a leave of absence for mental health reasons. Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers was not at morning skate on Tuesday, an indefinite leave of absence citing ‘personal reasons’ followed shortly after. Alex Formenton, former Ottawa Senator, takes a leave of absence from his Swiss club, first one to turn himself in. Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils were not at morning skate on Wednesday, taking absences indefinitely.
According to Hockey Canada, players were “strongly encouraged” to participate in the third-party investigation, but it was not mandatory. In total, “12 or 13” players participated in the investigation.
London Police Service will be hosting a media conference on Monday, February 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. to provide an update related to a sexual assault allegation involving members of the 2018 Canadian world junior hockey team.
The press conference will be available via live-stream across their social media platforms and TSN. The streaming link will be shared immediately prior to the event.
Lawyers for the four current and one former NHL players spoke to the justice of the peace in a London, Ont., court about next steps in this case. TSN reported.
The justice of the peace ordered a publication ban on the identity of the alleged victim and two witnesses in the case. Crown attorney Heather Donkers told the court that “substantial” paper and audio evidence collected by London police in connection with the case – know as disclosure – would be sent today by courier to the players’ lawyers.
The next hearing date in the case was scheduled for Apr. 30, at which time lawyers will discuss and review disclosure in the case.
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