London hockey player trial

[Allan]

Below in the CBC link is ongoing coverage of the trial of five professional hockey players charged in the sexual assault of a woman in a hotel room.

A summary of the case can be found in the link below.

New trial underway for five former Canadian world junior hockey players accused of sexual assault

A new trial began Monday for five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors Hockey team accused of sexually assaulting a woman in London in 2018. A mistrial was declared

westerngazette.ca

One of the men used a cellphone to record the woman giving consent. But she did not consent to other men being invited to participate. Video from the bar where she met the men shows that she may have been too impaired to give informed consent.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/livestory/recap-e-m-was-out-of-it-leaving-bar-with-1-of-the-ex-world-junior-players-she-says-at-sex-assault-trial-9.6745871

 

[MamboDervish]

Below in the CBC link is ongoing coverage of the trial of five professional hockey players charged in the sexual assault of a woman in a hotel room.

A summary of the case can be found in the link below.

New trial underway for five former Canadian world junior hockey players accused of sexual assault

A new trial began Monday for five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors Hockey team accused of sexually assaulting a woman in London in 2018. A mistrial was declared

westerngazette.ca

One of the men used a cellphone to record the woman giving consent. But she did not consent to other men being invited to participate. Video from the bar where she met the men shows that she may have been too impaired to give informed consent.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/livestory/recap-e-m-was-out-of-it-leaving-bar-with-1-of-the-ex-world-junior-players-she-says-at-sex-assault-trial-9.6745871

Any predictions on the outcome?

 

[Allan]

Any predictions on the outcome?

Based on the applicable laws - guilty. But we don't know as of yet the role each of the accused played.

These were all NHL players or prospects. Their careers are over.

 

[venice_ca]

Hmm, makes the Italian investigation of illegal betting on sports (other than soccer) by soccer players seem mild.

Accused players also risk being banned.

Italian betting scandal: 12 Serie A players, including USMNT's Weston McKennie, reportedly under investigation

Only news of the hospitalization, subsequent death and funeral of Pope Francis, and the convening Vatican conclave have managed to consistently knocked soccer — Coppa Italia, Premier League, etc — off the X headlines of Italian online news.

 

[Real blank]

Can someone give me a basic summary of what happened?

 

[Allan]

Can someone give me a basic summary of what happened?

Five players from the Canadian World Jr hockey team sexually assaulted a woman in a London Ontario hotel room.

The first sexual encounter is considered consensual. The other players who joined in are charged.

Two of the players were playing for the NHL when they were charged. Their teams released them.

 

[Real blank]

Five players from the Canadian World Jr hockey team sexually assaulted a woman in a London Ontario hotel room.

The first sexual encounter is considered consensual. The other players who joined in are charged.

Two of the players were playing for the NHL when they were charged. Their teams released them.

So was the first guy separate?

 

[Allan]

So was the first guy separate?

He was first but it was considered consensual. Then he (by text of all the stupid things to do) invited his teammates to join in.

Two other players were aware of what was going on but left. They've not been charged and are testifying.

 

[Real blank]

He was first but it was considered consensual. Then he (by text of all the stupid things to do) invited his teammates to join in.

Two other players were aware of what was going on but left. They've not been charged and are testifying.

sounds pretty damning. They sound like a bunch of arseholes in general

 

[Allan]

An update for y'all on this trial. There was some poor courtroom etiquette (Canadian courts are strict) on the part of the Defence Attorneys which may have impacted the jury.

As a result the jury was dismissed and the trial is continuing with just the judge.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/livestory/ex-teammate-and-nhler-brett-howden-testifying-at-sex-assault-trial-of-former-world-junior-players-9.6766098

 

[Brusan]

An update for y'all on this trial. There was some poor courtroom etiquette (Canadian courts are strict) on the part of the Defence Attorneys which may have impacted the jury.

As a result the jury was dismissed and the trial is continuing with just the judge.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/livestory/ex-teammate-and-nhler-brett-howden-testifying-at-sex-assault-trial-of-former-world-junior-players-9.6766098

I'm hoping the judge made it clear as to the reasons why the jury was dismissed and put's a very large responsibility bulls-eye squarely on the defense's backs to prevent any chance of an appeal being formed due to the case no longer being heard by a jury. I wish they'd refraind from complaining to the judge and simply kept the smarmy behaviour of the defense team in their minds when forming a decision.

Too late now, but I have to wonder why the jury felt the need to complain when the judge was obviously observing the defense bahaviour and not raising any concerns to those lawyers.

 

[Allan]

Too late now, but I have to wonder why the jury felt the need to complain when the judge was obviously observing the defense bahaviour and not raising any concerns to those lawyers.

Was the judge aware?

 

[Brusan]

Was the judge aware?

I cannot get any details of the issue other than a small snippet about the jury feeling the defense lawyers were denigrating them somehow. The only venue for that to happen would have been within the courtroom where the judge is present throughout proceedings - sooooo - ?

Very strange when considering the oxymoronic nature of defense lawyers deliberately pizzing off jurists being at odds with trying to keep their clients from being found guilty.

I'm obviously missing something in all of this fooforah.

 

[Allan]

This gets more convoluted today as The Crown is concerned about its own witness giving conflicting testimony.

Howden has been dismissed for the day after assistant Crown attorney Cunningham said she wants to deal with what she believes are inconsistencies in his testimony.

Cunningham is suggesting that Howden, the Crown’s witness, made inconsistent statements compared to evidence he gave previously to investigators.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/livestory/recap-crown-suggests-inconsistencies-in-nhler-brett-howdens-testimony-at-trial-of-ex-world-junior-players-9.6766098

 

[Evilroddy]

Where is @ASHES when you need them for trial review! This whole mess is a stain on London, Ontario, Canada and hockey and none of these players should ever be able to play in Canada ever again if found guilty, especially if they get light sentences. The young woman, called EM due to a publication ban, did not deserve to be treated like this even if at first she might have been a willing focus of these young men's lusts. This was disgusting and frankly rape through entitlement in my opinion and thus should be treated as such from my point of view.

With disgust and regret.
Evilroddy.

 

[ASHES]

Where is @ASHES when you need them for trial review! This whole mess is a stain on London, Ontario, Canada and hockey and none of these players should ever be able to play in Canada ever again if found guilty, especially if they get light sentences. The young woman, called EM due to a publication ban, did not deserve to be treated like this even if at first she might have been a willing focus of these young men's lusts. This was disgusting and frankly rape through entitlement in my opinion and thus should be treated as such from my point of view.

With disgust and regret.
Evilroddy.

This is too he said she said (just relative to the stuff I usually do based on my basic knowledge, I don't know enough about the case). I'm also neck deep in the Read retrial. And I don't know Canadian law and have never watched a Canadian trial. Thanks for thinking of me.

I like to see @Allan's coverage of it though.

 

[Allan]

This whole mess is a stain on London, Ontario, Canada and hockey and none of these players should ever be able to play in Canada ever again if found guilty, especially if they get light sentences.

They'll never play in the NHL. No team wants this baggage.

If they get off the best they could do is Eastern Europe.

 

[Allan]

This is too he said she said

There's corroberating evidence - incriminating text messages and witnesses who didn't participate.

Howden is one of those witnesses. The fact that the Crown is concerned about his credibility is a problem.

 

[Allan]

I like to see @Allan's coverage of it though

My coverage sucks compared to the detail you provide during a trial. I almost hope for high profile murders so I can follow your trial coverage.

 

[ASHES]

My coverage sucks compared to the detail you provide during a trial. I almost hope for high profile murders so I can follow your trial coverage.

I'm still doing Read retrial. Thought you knew that was going on.

 

[Allan]

I'm still doing Read retrial. Thought you knew that was going on.

I do know it and I'm following your thread.

If she gets off I hope you'll cover the trial of her next husband murder.

 

[ASHES]

I do know it and I'm following your thread.

If she gets off I hope you'll cover the trial of her next husband murder.

 

[Grogu]

Based on the applicable laws - guilty. But we don't know as of yet the role each of the accused played.

These were all NHL players or prospects. Their careers are over.

Their NHL careers are all but over. Pretty much a waste of NHL talent over one night with one woman and poor decisions resulting in sexual assault charges. A few are still playing. A key witness for the Crown present that night is Brett Howden, currently playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Carter Hart is an unrestricted free agent after being placed on leave by the Philadelphia Flyers. His most recent contract with the Flyers was $11.937 million over three years. He hasn’t played since.

Alex Formenton played for the Ottawa Senators. He signed a $2.24 million contract for three years before being released. He recently played for the National League in Europe for a Swiss team. As of 2025, he’s now out of professional hockey.

Cal Foote played for the Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, and won the Stanley Cup while playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. His most recent contract was an $800 thousand contract for one year. He was then released from the Devils and currently plays in the Slovak Extraliga.

Michael McLeod played in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the New Jersey Devils. He signed a $1.4 million contract for one year before being released and he now plays in the KHL.

Dillon Dubé had played for the Calgary Flames. He previously signed a $6.9 million contract for three years. He was put on leave by the Flames, then became an unrestricted free agent in 2024. He now plays in the KHL.

 

[Allan]

Their NHL careers are all but over. Pretty much a waste of NHL talent over one night with one woman and poor decisions resulting in sexual assault charges. A few are still playing. A key witness for the Crown present that night is Brett Howden, currently playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Carter Hart is an unrestricted free agent after being placed on leave by the Philadelphia Flyers. His most recent contract with the Flyers was $11.937 million over three years. He hasn’t played since.

Alex Formenton played for the Ottawa Senators. He signed a $2.24 million contract for three years before being released. He recently played for the National League in Europe for a Swiss team. As of 2025, he’s now out of professional hockey.

Cal Foote played for the Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, and won the Stanley Cup while playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning. His most recent contract was an $800 thousand contract for one year. He was then released from the Devils and currently plays in the Slovak Extraliga.

Michael McLeod played in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the New Jersey Devils. He signed a $1.4 million contract for one year before being released and he now plays in the KHL.

Dillon Dubé had played for the Calgary Flames. He previously signed a $6.9 million contract for three years. He was put on leave by the Flames, then became an unrestricted free agent in 2024. He now plays in the KHL.

Great information

 

[Brusan]

I understand the Crown's being upset with Howden's seeming lack of memory of the more pertinent details.

His current testimony differs from some of the information he provided the Crown earlier.

He has upon many questions put to him responded with "I cannot recall". This after being interviewed at length by the Crown while prpping their prosecution case.

I believe one very illustrative moment came with the Crown asking him in response to a question about the victim's clothing upon his entering the room as being "I don't remember"; the pointed question: "you now do not remember having stated earlier, witnessing her exit the bathroom naked" . Something to the effect; 'you mean to tell us all you cannot remember having seen a naked woman walk from a bathroom across the room in front of you'?

Those are my words and not an actual verbatim quote of the Crown's.