Canada Hockey Players Acquitted of Sexual Assault
Former World Junior Hockey Player Alex Formenton Appears in London Court for Sexual Assault Allegations
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London, Ontario - Alex Formenton, one of five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey championship team, appeared in a London courthouse on Thursday too face charges of sexual assault. The allegations stem from an incident that reportedly occurred in 2018 when the players were in London for a gala adn golf tournament celebrating their championship victory.
Formenton, along with his former teammates Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Dylan McLelland, and Taylor Raddysh, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. the players, now aged between 25 and 27, are accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her hotel room.
Testimony and Defense Arguments
During testimony in May, the complainant recounted feeling scared and vulnerable when four of the players entered her room unexpectedly. She stated that she felt she had no choice but to comply with their actions. Prosecutors have argued that the players proceeded with sexual acts without ensuring the complainant’s voluntary consent.
“I made the choice to dance with them and drink at the bar, I did not make the choice to have them do what they did back at the hotel,” she testified.
Defense attorneys, however, cross-examined the complainant extensively, suggesting she actively participated in or even initiated the sexual activity, portraying her desire for a “wild night.” Short video clips of the complainant, recorded by McLelland on the night in question, were presented in court. In one of the videos, the woman is heard saying, “it was all consensual,” though she later clarified in court that this did not reflect her true feelings at the time.
Public Awareness and Legal Proceedings
The allegations remained undisclosed to the public for several years.An initial police inquiry in early 2019 concluded without charges. However, the complainant filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada in 2022. The organization subsequently settled the lawsuit amidst significant public scrutiny, which led to the loss of sponsors. This settlement prompted the police to reopen their investigation.
The identities of the accused players became public knowledge in early 2024 when they were formally charged. At the time of the charges, four of the players were active in the NHL: Dube with the Calgary Flames, Hart with the Philadelphia Flyers, and McLelland and Foote with the New Jersey Devils. Formenton had previously played for the Ottawa senators before joining a team in switzerland. all five players were placed on indefinite leave and are currently not rostered or under contract with any NHL team.
The National Hockey League also launched its own investigation in 2022. While league officials committed to releasing the findings, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated in February that the timing and extent of the release would be contingent on the ongoing legal proceedings.
Protests and Support for the Complainant
On thursday morning, a crowd of protesters gathered outside the packed London courthouse, holding signs expressing their support for the complainant. The Associated Press, in line with its policy, does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault unless they have given explicit permission, which the complainant has not done.