Four Canadian hockey stars remain suspended after sexual assault acquittal
A fifth has been reinstated, though an appeals board found that the whole group broke Hockey Canada's code of conduct.
Four Canadian hockey stars are facing suspension after their acquittal on sexual assault charges, according to an independent appeals board. The players, who were acquitted in July 2025, are accused of the assault that occurred in 2018 during a gala in London, Ontario. The board ruled that four of the five players, including Alex Formenton, should remain banned from representing Canada in international hockey events.
However, Alex Formenton is set to be reinstated, while the others face waiting periods between November 2025 and November 2030 before they can return to international play. The NHL has the power to reinstate the players as they operate under separate authority from Hockey Canada, and they have already allowed the players to sign contracts with their NHL teams.
The case has sparked conversations about safe sport and the culture within men's hockey in Canada, with Hockey Canada facing scrutiny for systemic failures.
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