Breaking: 5 Players Ordered To Surrender To Police on Sexual Assault Charges

Troubling news for the hockey world, as five members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team have been ordered to surrender to police to face charges of group sexual assault.

Breaking: Five members of the 2018 world junior hockey team have been told to surrender to London, Ont., police to face charges of sexual assault, The Globe and Mail reports, citing unnamed sources.
The Globe reports the players, who have not been charged yet, have been given a…

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) January 24, 2024

The players, who have not been named yet, have been given a set period of time to present themselves at London, Ont. police headquarters. The pending charges stem from an alleged incident at a Hockey Canada fundraising gala event on June 18, 2018.

Have reached out to NHL for comment. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said there is nothing the league can say at this time. https://t.co/tUx7V6467X

— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) January 24, 2024

"When there is further information to share regarding this investigation, we will be in contact with media outlets," said London Police. 

Katie Strang of The Athletic, who's been following the story, reached out to the NHL, but Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said there is nothing the league can say at this time.

In May, 2022, an unnamed woman settled a $3.55 million lawsuit against Hockey Canada,(opens in a new tab)the Canadian Hockey League, and eight unnamed former CHL players. In December of that year, London police said they had "reasonable grounds" to believe that five members of the 2018 Canada World Juniors hockey team sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room.

Recent developments surrounding players who were on that 2018 junior team have been noticed by many followers around the sport. 

Here’s what we know to be true:
- Dube took leave from CGY
- Hart took leave from PHI
- Formenton took leave in Europe
- McLeod & Foote were NOT at the NJD team event last night, but team has not issued a release.

— Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) January 24, 2024

We cannot make any direct references to any of those players until the investigators release more information.

Photo:  Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports