Judge rules former Canadian hockey players not guilty of sexual assault

Trial that sparked statement implicit civilization of intersexual battle successful Canadian hockey ends aft justice says allegations not ‘credible’.

A Canadian justice has recovered that 5 erstwhile members of the country’s 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey squad are not blameworthy of intersexual assault, pursuing a proceedings that roiled Canada.

Judge Maria Carroccia told a courtroom connected Thursday that she did not find allegations of battle against the 5 men “credible oregon reliable”, according to Canada’s CBC News.

A lawyer for the complainant said the justness strategy had fallen abbreviated successful some the mode her lawsuit was treated connected the basal and the conclusions drawn by the judge.

“She’s evidently precise disappointed with the verdict and precise disappointed with Her Honour’s appraisal of her honesty and reliability,” said Karen Bellehumeur, a lawyer for the complainant who is lone known arsenic EM owed to a prohibition connected publicising her identity. “She’s truly ne'er experienced not being believed similar this before.”

Pavement is painted successful enactment of a complainant successful a intersexual battle lawsuit adjacent the Superior Court of Justice successful London, Ontario, Canada, connected July 24, 2025 [Carlos Osorio/Reuters]

The allegations of misconduct prompted statement implicit the civilization of intersexual battle wrong Canadian hockey, a favourite pastime of the North American country. But it besides drew attraction to the sceptical oculus that authorities often formed connected alleged victims.

Carroccia’s connection that she did not find grounds from the pistillate who was allegedly assaulted reliable prompted gasps successful the courtroom, CBC reported.

All 5 men – Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote – denied wrongdoing, stating that the alleged victim, EM, was a consenting subordinate successful enactment acts astatine a edifice successful London, Ontario, successful 2018, pursuing a squad celebration.

The justice seemed to judge that claim, saying that the complainant had failed to found that the brushwood was “vitiated by fear”. She besides said that the pistillate had a “tendency to blasted others” erstwhile presented with inconsistencies successful her representation of the night.

“Justice Carroccia’s cautiously reasoned determination represents a resounding vindication for Mr McLeod and for his co-defendants,” said McLeod’s lawyer, David Humphrey.

Two erstwhile juries successful the lawsuit were dismissed, resulting successful a proceedings wherever a azygous justice rendered a verdict.

The CEO of Hockey Canada and the organisation’s full committee of directors stepped down successful October 2022 amid scrutiny of the alleged pack rape and an out-of-court colony with the accuser.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies