The five 2018 Canadian world junior hockey players charged with sexual assault were no shows for their first court appearance in London.
Instead, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dubé, New Jersey Devils defenceman Cal Foote, Devils centre Michael McLeod, Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart, and former London Knight and Ottawa Senator turned Swiss league player Alex Formenton had their lawyers appear on their behalf on Monday.
All five are charged with sexual assault. McLeod faces an additional charge of sexual assault by being a party to the offence. The charges stem from an alleged sexual assault that reportedly took place inside London’s Delta Armouries hotel after a Hockey Canada gala in 2018. A woman, known only as E.M., reported she was sexually assaulted by a group of players following the fundraiser.
At Monday's appearance, Assistant Crown Attorney Heather Donkers requested a publication ban on any information that could identify the woman, as well as two witnesses. Her request was granted by Justice of the Peace Elizabeth Oudekerk.
Lawyers for the five hockey players were also told to expect "substantial" disclosure from the Crown either Monday or Tuesday. The disclosure will reportedly include both audio and video evidence.
The case was then adjourned until April 30.
Defendants do not have to appear in-person for routine court appearances, as long as their lawyer is present to represent them. Lawyers for the five players previously stated the men will be pleading not guilty to the charges against them.
The court appearance came just hours before London police were scheduled to hold a news conference at RBC Place, formally the London Convention Centre, to update the public on the sexual assault investigation. The news conference, which is not open to the general public, was to begin at 2 p.m. It was moved from police headquarters to the larger venue due to the national and international media interest in the case.
An original investigation into the sexual assault conducted by London police was closed without charges in 2019. However, it was reopened again in the spring of 2022 when news Hockey Canada had settled a $3.5 million lawsuit with the alleged victim became public. The scandal set off a chain of events that impacted hockey from coast to coast and saw board members resigning and staff leadership replaced following an embarrassing series of appearances before politicians on Parliament Hill. Little was said publicly after the case was reopened, until late last month when the Globe and Mail broke the news five players were told to present themselves to police to be charged with sexual assault.
None of the allegations against the men have been proven in court.
