'We've got a long way to go': Public reaction grows after Canada's former World Junior Hockey players acquitted of sexual assault

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2 days ago

Five members of Canada's 2018 world junior team charged with sexual assault were acquitted, but they likely won't find themselves back in the NHL anytime soon
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The verdict of a widely publicized sexual assault trial involving five former NHL players has ignited a complex national conversation with Canadians weighing the outcome through lenses of accountability, justice and hockey's cultural grip.
Members of Canada's World Junior Hockey squad — Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, and Dillon Dube — were charged with sexually assaulting E.M., a woman whose identity is protected under a standard publication ban, in a hotel room in 2018 while the team was gathering to celebrate its gold medal win months before.
On Thursday, following eight weeks of trial, Ontario Superior Court justice Maria Carroccia found all of the accused men not guilty on all charges.
Judge did not find complainant's evidence to be 'credible or reliable'
As part of her judgment on Thursday, Justice Carroccia stated that she found the evidence submitted by the prosecution to be unreliable, before going ahead and sharing the reasoning behind her decision.
Going through each defendant one-by-one, Justice Carroccia said the Crown had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the complainant in the case, E.M., had not given consent.
Hour-after-hour on Thursday, Justice Carroccia laid out a number of issues she found with the evidence and E.M's "reliability and credibility."
Carroccia noted several "gaps in E.M.'s memory and discrepancies between her statements to London police and her civil settlement in 2022 compared to her recollections under cross-examination," according to the CBC.
Justice Carroccia also told the court that the complainant 'exaggerated her intoxication' on the night the alleged acts took place, while rejecting the Crown's argument that E.M. had only participated in the sexual because she was afraid of the group of men in the hotel room.
'We've got a long way to go': Canadians react to Justice Carroccia's ruling
Following the acquittal of each former NHLer, many social media users expressed their dissatisfaction with the verdict, while offering support to E.M.
Outside the courthouse in London, Ont., on Thursday, Lawyer Karen Bellehumeur told reporters her client, E.M., faced "insulting mocking and unfair treatment" during cross-examination as she went on to reflect on the judgment.
'She's obviously very disappointed with the verdict and very disappointed with her Honour's assessment of her honesty and reliability' said Bellehumeur.
Where does the NHL stand on the players' future in the league?
Per insider John Shannon, it's still unknown whether the five acquitted players will ever be allowed to make their way back to the NHL, despite being found innocent by Justice Carroccia.
The NHL released a statement confirming Shannon's report:
"The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable. We will be reviewing and considering the judge's findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league."
Crown has 30 days to appeal the verdict
Following Thursday's verdict, assistant Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham spoke to reporters outside the courthouse as supporters of E.M. cheered.
'A successful prosecution is not measured solely by whether or not there are guilty verdicts at the end,' Cunningham said.
Cunningham added the Crown will 'carefully review' Carroccia's decisions but won't comment further because "this case is still within the appeal period."