Court proceedings for five 2018 Canadian World Junior players moved to April 30

According to the Canadian Press, the sexual assault case against five players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior Championship team has been adjourned until April 30.

Lawyers for all five players appeared on video on Monday morning, agreeing to a later court date. None of the five players were present.

Late in January, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were charged with sexual assault. McLeod is also facing an additional charge of sexual assault for “being a party to the offence.”

In statements released last month, lawyers for all five players said their clients will defend themselves against the allegations put forth.

Four of the five that were charged have played in the NHL this season. Formenton has spent the past two years with Ambri-Piotta of the National League in Switzerland, but the Ottawa Senators still own his rights.

In 2022, TSN reported that Hockey Canada had settled a $3.55-million lawsuit for a woman referred to as E.M. The complainant alleged in a civil lawsuit that after leaving a bar to have sex with an unnamed man, the man invited other players to his room to have sex with E.M.

The claim states that, in the hours that followed, John Does 1-8 engaged in several sexual acts “which collectively constituted sexual abuse and assault of the plaintiff.” The claim stated the actions of John Does 1-8 “caused terror and fear” in the woman’s mind and that she did not give consent to any of the actions because she was so intoxicated.

The claim also states that the woman was “intimidated by the number of men and the fact they brought golf clubs to the room.”

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

London Police is set to make a statement at a media press conference at 2:00 PM ET on Monday.