A composite image of five photographs show former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team, left to right, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Carter Hart as they individually arrived to court in London, Ont., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

Jurors in the sexual-assault case of five hockey players have been told they cannot use the allegations made in a 2022 lawsuit against Hockey Canada and eight unnamed players as proof of any wrongdoing in the criminal trial.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia gave the instruction today in the trial of Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote, who were all members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team.

All have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in connection with a 2018 encounter that took place in London, Ont., as many of the team's players were in town for a Hockey Canada gala.

McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

The lawsuit involves the same complainant as the criminal case and alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight members of the world junior team. It was settled for an undisclosed amount in the spring of 2022 before TSN first broke the story.

In the months that followed, Hockey Canada and London police reopened their investigations into the allegations. Criminal charges were laid against McLeod, Cart, Formenton, Dube and Foote in early 2024.

Carroccia said Thursday that while the defendants in the civil case were identified only as "John Doe," a statement submitted to Hockey Canada months later as part of its renewed investigation into the matter named them – a list that includes some of the accused at trial.

She said Hockey Canada settled the suit without the knowledge of the defendants, and the organization denied any liability in the case.

One of the defence lawyers for Hart began cross-examining the complainant Wednesday on the lawsuit and why a particular player who was not criminally charged was among those who were sued.

The complainant said she did not draft the statement of claim and knew that player "didn't do anything." She said she recognized him as someone who was at the bar where she met the group of players that night.

"I know I didn't say to anybody that that was someone who assaulted me at all," she said. "... Even in my statement, I believe I can just identify him as someone at the bar."

The statement sent to Hockey Canada was prepared by her lawyers but the woman reviewed and signed it, she has testified. She acknowledged this week that it contained several errors.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025