Judge declares mistrial in sexual assault trial involving five 2018 Hockey Canada world junior players

According to reports in London, Ontario, Justice Maria Carroccia has declared a mistrial in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case involving members of the 2018 World Junior Championship team.

The mistrial was declared just two days after the Crown attorney made opening statements. Three days ago, a 14-person jury was selected. According to Katie Strang and Dan Robson from The Athletic, the court will start the process to select a new 14-person jury on Friday. The previous jury featured 11 women and three men

Reasons for the mistrial are currently covered by a publication ban.

Former NHLers Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart are all facing one count of sexual assault, while Michael McLeod is facing two. Four of the five players were active NHLers as recently as last year, with Alex Formenton having last played in 2021-22. Dube and McLeod played in the KHL this season, while Foote played in Slovakia. Formenton and Hart have not played since being charged.

In June of 2018, the accused were in London, Ont., to celebrate Canada’s 2018 World Junior gold medal win. After the Hockey Canada event, members of the team attended a bar in downtown London, where they met the alleged victim (known only as E.M.). The alleged assault took place at a hotel in London.

All five players have pleaded not guilty. As the trial process will be forced to start again, all five players will have to enter those pleas again.

The trial was originally expected to span eight weeks.

Hockey Canada would later ban all 22 players from the 2018 world junior team from participating in any national team action. Cale Makar, who was listed as one of the potential witnesses in the case, was later approved to play at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, which Canada won.

Other potential witnesses include St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas and Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson.