LONDON, Canada: Canadian police on Monday confirmed charges against five current and former NHL players in an alleged 2018 gang rape, and apologized for the six years it took to investigate allegations.
The defendants, who were part of Canada’s junior national ice hockey team at the time, each face one count of sexual assault.
Defendants are Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube; Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart; and Alex Formenton, formerly of the Ottawa Senators who now plays in Switzerland.
McLeoad was also charged with being an abettor to the crime – in other words, aiding or abetting others to commit a crime.
“I want to extend on behalf of the London Police Service my sincerest apology to the victim (and) to her family for the amount of time that it has taken to reach this point,” police chief of London, Ontario, Thai Truong, told a news conference.
“As a police officer working in this space for many years, I can tell you that this is a difficult, difficult situation for all victims and survivors of sexual violence,” he said.
Five players are accused of sexually assaulting a young woman at a London, Ontario hotel after the Hockey Canada gala in June 2018.
The police investigation was closed without charges in 2019, but a second look at the case — following the Hockey Canada scandal and public uproar — turned up additional evidence and additional witnesses that led to charges, according to lead investigator Katherine Dann.
All five suspects surrendered to police last week and were released pending trial, she said.
Earlier on Monday, lawyers for the players made their first court appearance via video link and were told they expected a significant amount of evidence to be released in the coming weeks.
None of the players were present at the meeting. Their lawyers said the players denied any wrongdoing and would fight the allegations.
The next court hearing was scheduled for April 30.
In May 2022, Hockey Canada was rocked by press revelations of the 2018 gang rape made by a young woman, accusing it of trying to cover up the case.
The federation quietly paid the woman several million dollars from a secret fund – a fund that was partially supported by fees paid by young Canadian hockey players.
Backlash was swift, leading to a run of sponsors and a 10-month suspension of federal funding for the federation, as well as the ouster of Hockey Canada CEO Scott Smith.
