Hockey

Ontario Judge Questions Credibility of Complainant in Landmark Sexual Assault Case Involving Five Former Junior Hockey Stars

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LONDON, Ontario — A judge has ruled in the high-profile sexual assault trial involving five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team, stating that she found the complainant’s testimony lacking in credibility. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia announced her decision, although she has yet to finalize the charges against each of the accused players. The accused — Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote — have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred in a hotel room on June 19, 2018. McLeod faces … Read more

Former Junior Hockey Stars Face Legal Turmoil: All Five Alleged in Assault Case Take Leaves from NHL Teams

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Ottawa, Canada — Five members of the 2018 national junior hockey team, who each went on to play in the NHL, have come under scrutiny following allegations of an assault that took place during their junior careers. Since the incident, the players have had varied trajectories in their professional lives but recently found themselves taking leaves of absence from their teams after being instructed to cooperate with a police investigation that began in January 2024. Alex Formenton, 25, a notable forward who previously shined with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, was drafted by the … Read more

U.S. Court Tosses Class-Action Bid to Overhaul Junior Hockey Draft System, Citing Jurisdictional Limitations

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A U.S. District Court in Seattle has dismissed a class-action lawsuit aimed at abolishing the entry draft system used in major junior hockey. The ruling, made by Judge Tana Lin on May 23, was based on jurisdictional concerns, as much of the relevant activity takes place in Canada. In her ruling, Judge Lin highlighted that the majority of the alleged conduct occurred outside the United States. She noted, “Asserting jurisdiction for a small group and allowing the small group to potentially upend the conduct of business that mostly occurs in another country would be like … Read more

High-Profile Lawyer Daniel Brown Faces Jury Allegations of Misconduct in Controversial Hockey Assault Trial

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London, Ontario — A high-profile sexual assault trial has turned controversial as allegations emerged against Daniel Brown, a prominent criminal defense lawyer, and his colleague Hilary Dudding. The pair is representing one of the accused players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team, facing accusations of misconduct during the trial, which has sparked significant media attention and legal debate. The issue arose when juror number 11 submitted a note to Justice Maria Carroccia, alleging that Brown and Dudding were “bullying” the jury. The juror claimed that several members felt they were subjected to ridicule by … Read more