Trial Date Set For 2018 Hockey Canada Case

The trial for five former members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Championship team, charged with sexual assault, is set to begin on April 22, 2025.

This highly-publicized case marks a pivotal moment for Canadian hockey, with defendants Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, and Alex Formenton facing serious criminal allegations. All five players have been released by their respective professional teams.

This trial follows a protracted and contentious investigation process. An initial inquiry began in the summer of 2018, shortly after the alleged assault took place, yet the investigation was closed in early 2019 due to a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with charges.

However, the matter resurfaced in May 2022, when a report revealed that Hockey Canada had reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit involving the same allegations. The criminal investigation was reopened in July 2022.

The trial is anticipated to span eight weeks.

Related: 2018 WJC Sexual Assault Case: What We Know

For Canadian hockey fans and advocates, this trial has come to represent more than just a verdict; it raises questions about accountability, institutional responsibility, and whether issues of conduct and power dynamics among young athletes.

Hockey Canada, long viewed as a national institution, has faced calls for reform and transparency. The organization has committed to policy overhauls and promosing a more robust approach to handling allegations of abuse and misconduct, though many remain skeptical about whether meaningful change can occur without systemic reform.

An alternative date for September 2025 was rejected.

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