5 players from Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team take leaves of absence amid report of sexual assault investigation
The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, reported that five members of the 2018 team were told to surrender to police in London, Ontario.
Five players who were on the 2018 Canada world junior ice hockey men’s team were granted indefinite leaves of absence from their current teams in the past week, amid a report of a sexual assault investigation.
Those granted leave are NHL players Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers and Dillon Dubé of the Calgary Flames. Former NHL player Alex Formenton, who now plays with Swiss club HC Ambrì-Piotta, is the fifth player.
The Flyers and HC Ambri-Piotta cited personal reasons for Hart’s and Formenton’s leave.
The Flames cited Dubé’s mental health for his leave in a post Sunday on X and could not be reached for further comment.
The Devils did not offer any additional comment following their Wednesday announcement that McLeod and Foote requested and were granted indefinite leaves of absence.
The 2018 Canada world juniors team was connected to a sexual assault investigation in 2022, in which eight players were accused of sexually abusing and assaulting a 20-year-old