Dillon Dubé (Calgary Flames), Michael McLeod and Cal Foote (New Jersey Devils), and Carter Hart (Philadelphia Flyers) were on paid leave but are now free agents after the signing deadline passed. Former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton, also charged in the case, remains on leave from the Swiss club Ambri-Piotta.
All five players plead not guilty to charges from January and will face pretrial motions in early September, where evidence admissibility will be argued before Ontario Superior Court Justice Bruce Thomas. Each player faces a sexual assault charge, with McLeod facing an additional charge of being a party to an offence. They have requested a jury trial, but a trial date is not set.
London police Chief Thai Truong apologized to the alleged victim for the six-year delay in filing charges, initially reported by TSN following a settled civil suit. The woman's identity is protected by a publication ban. Court documents revealed she was drinking with players at Jack's Bar in London, later returning to the Delta hotel for consensual sex with one player before allegedly being assaulted by multiple players.
