• Loading stock data...
Friday, June 6, 2025
Law

Judge Dismisses Jury Again In Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Trial

After a second jury dismissal in the case, the judge will now have full discretion to decide the fate of five former NHL players standing trial.

Oct 24, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils center Michael McLeod (20) looks on against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Bell Centre
David Kirouac/Imagn Images

The high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial in Ontario will proceed with a judge-only decision after Justice Maria Carroccia dismissed the 14-member jury on Friday morning.

Five former NHL players are standing trial for a sexual assault charge following an alleged incident in 2018 following a celebration for Team Canada’s gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship. The case centers on whether the woman alleging assault, identified only as E.M. due to a publication ban under Canadian law, gave or was able to give consent to the defendants. 

A juror told Carroccia on Thursday that multiple members of the jury believed two of the defense attorneys were judging and laughing at them. Carroccia dismissed jurors the next morning without an explanation, and she alone will now determine the outcome. This is the second jury dismissal in the trial; Carroccia previously declared a mistrial during the first week of proceedings without a given reason.

The juror’s note that preceded the dismissal read: “Multiple jury members feel we are being judged and made fun of by lawyers (Daniel) Brown and Hilary Dudding. Every day when we enter the courtroom they observe us, whisper to each other and turn to each other and laugh as if they are discussing our appearance. This is unprofessional and unacceptable.” The defense lawyers in question denied this behavior, calling the situation an “unfortunate misinterpretation.”

Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod are the five players accused of wrongdoing by the Crown. All five players, who have pleaded not guilty, are facing one count of sexual assault with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison; McLeod is facing an additional count of being party to the offense, which could come with additional sentencing if he is convicted. 

Also on Thursday, 134 text messages among players from 2018, sent shortly after the alleged incident, were read aloud in court. The group chat showed players discussing how to handle a potential investigation. “We all need to say the same thing if we get interviewed can’t have different stories or make anything up,” McLeod sent.

E.M. testified that she had consensual sex with McLeod in a London, Ont. hotel room before more of his teammates entered and sexually assaulted her. She testified the men forced her to give them oral sex, threatened her with golf clubs, stopped her from leaving, had penetrative sex with her, and made her record a video saying she gave her consent. The defense attorneys have suggested E.M. wanted to have a “wild night” with multiple men, which she has denied.

Hockey Canada and London police launched investigations into the incident before dropping them without charges in February 2019. In 2022, she settled a $3.5 million civil lawsuit with Hockey Canada, which sparked outrage and led both entities to reopen their investigation. London police announced charges in 2024 and publicly apologized to the woman.

Throughout the trial, multiple players who are not accused of wrongdoing, including current members of teams that competed in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, have been called to testify. This week, former professional hockey player Tyler Steenbergen testified that he went into the hotel room because he heard there was food, and said 10 people were in the room. He said he saw Dubé slap E.M. on the buttocks, among other things. He said both Dubé and Foote called him ahead of his investigation interview with Hockey Canada.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Goodyear blimp flies over Ohio Stadium during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game between the Akron Zips and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Why the Goodyear Blimp Is at Every Major Sports Event

The airship wasn’t built to cover sports. Now it’s a regular presence.
NiJaree Canady

Stacked Texas Tech NIL Roster Now a Win Away From Softball Title

The Red Raiders have a winning formula with NIL and recruiting.
ESPN has not let NBA Countdown “marinate” as talent changes too frequently, ex-host Michelle Beadle tells FOS.
breaking

SiriusXM Parts Ways With Michelle Beadle, Cody Decker

Beadle, Decker exit three months before Stephen A. Smith takes their slot.
Tony Clark

Everything You Need to Know About the MLBPA-OneTeam FBI Investigation

Money from lucrative group licensing deals is under federal scrutiny.

Featured Today

May 27, 2015; Paris, France; Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) knocks the clay off her shoe during her match against Simona Halep (ROU) on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros

Roland-Garros’s Iconic Red-Clay Surface Is a Precise Alchemy

The exact science behind maintaining the French Open’s red clay.
Alex Jensen introductory press conference on Monday, March 17, 2025.
June 3, 2025

Alex Jensen Started Utah Utes HC Job While Still Coaching the Mavs

How Jensen began building an NCAA program while patrolling the Dallas sideline.
May 31, 2025

PSG and the City of Paris Can Join European Soccer’s Elite

What a maiden Champions League title would mean for the French club.
May 30, 2025

How the Champions League Anthem Took on a Life of Its Own

The composer didn’t know he wrote a timeless hit three decades ago.
The basketball court area inside Indiana University's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. Assembly Hall is one of six Indiana venues hosting 2021 NCAA March Madness tournament games. Indiana University Hoosiers Basketball Assembly Hall In Bloomington Ind On Tuesday March 9 2021

More Former Indiana Players Say Bob Knight Knew of Abusive Doctor

Ten more former Hoosier men’s basketball players say they were sexually abused by a team doctor between the 1970s and 1990s.
Pacifica's Alijah Royster breaks through the Thousand Oaks defense to score a touchdown during their CIF-SS Division 4 semifinal game at Thousand Oaks on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Pacifica won 28-16.
June 3, 2025

New Lawsuit Challenges Restrictions on High School NIL Deals, Transfers

A former high school football player filed a class-action lawsuit in California.
Jun 23, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning at Petco Park.
June 3, 2025

Trevor Bauer Gets Legal Win Over Accuser for Violating Settlement Terms

Judge orders woman who brought sexual assault allegations to pay over $300,000.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
Jack Brewer
June 3, 2025

Ex-NFL Player Committed Insider Trading, Judge Rules

Brewer played safety for five NFL seasons before going into finance. 
Mar 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detailed view of the basketball sneakers worn by Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena.
May 30, 2025

Skechers Sued Over Allegedly Sketchy Go-Private Deal

The footwear giant agreed to be acquired by 3G Capital for $9.4 billion.
Zion Williamson
May 30, 2025

Zion Williamson Accused of Rape and Abuse in Lawsuit

The woman says their relationship began when he was at Duke in 2018.
May 28, 2025

Arizona Father-Son Duo Plead Guilty to $280 Million Sportsplex Fraud

Randy Miller and his son Chad conned multiple investment firms.