A pivotal courtroom showdown is set for next Tuesday in London, Ontario, where five former stars from Canada’s 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship team face serious sexual assault charges, emerging 15 months after the allegations first came to light.

The accused—Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, and Dillon Dube—have all entered not guilty pleas, with McLeod also facing a secondary charge related to the incident.

The saga began when a woman identified in court as E.M. reported that she had been sexually assaulted in June 2018 at a London hotel following a Hockey Canada gala. Initial investigations by police and Hockey Canada ceased without charges until public pressure forced a reopening of the case in June 2022, after E.M. settled a $3.5 million lawsuit against Hockey Canada and several unidentified players.

The scandal surrounding this case has ignited nationwide outrage, leading to corporate sponsors distancing themselves from Hockey Canada and prompting government intervention, including the establishment of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner.

Key Questions Before the Trial Begins