Breaking News: Major Development in Sexual Assault Trial of 5 Hockey Canada Players
A mistrial has been declared in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team.
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) April 25, 2025
Justice Maria Carroccia dismissed the jury this morning without giving them an explanation for the mistrial.
A new jury will be selected today.
As per reporter Rick Westhead, Justice Maria Carroccia dismissed the jury on Friday morning just days after it began, without providing an explanation for the mistrial.
The 11 women and three men were sent home, and a new jury will be selected later on Friday.
The Judge had adjourned court two days ago, saying, “Something happened over the lunch hour that I need to think about and to discuss with the lawyers.” Whatever it was, it was serious enough to require a complete swapping out of the jury.
5 former NHLers on trial in sexual abuse case
On trial are former NHL players Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton. The first four were put on leave by their NHL teams early last season when the charges were laid, while the latter had been playing overseas for a couple of years.
In opening statements on Wednesday, the prosecution attorney told the now-dismissed jurors that the five players allegedly “had sexual contact with the complainant without her voluntary agreement to the specific acts that took place.”
The trial, whenever it restarts, is expected to last eight weeks.
McLeod and Foote were with the New Jersey Devils and have been playing in the KHL in Russia this season, Dube, formerly of the Calgary Flames, has also been playing in the KHL, while Hart was a goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers and hasn't played since he left the NHL, though there was talk last summer that he could try to continue his career overseas.
Photo: © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
