So, Like, What Even Happened? Okay babes, buckle up. We’re talking about one of the messiest scandals to ever hit Canadian hockey. Picture it: June 2018, London, Ontario. The junior men’s national team is out celebrating their gold medal win at some fancy Hockey Canada gala. Everything’s all champagne and suits—until it totally spirals.
A young woman—let’s call her E.M.—says she was, like, horrifically assaulted by five players in a hotel room later that night. And we’re not talking light drama here. We’re talking serious charges: sexual assault, and one of the guys, Michael McLeod, even got slapped with an extra charge for basically being part of the whole gross situation.
Oh, and the guys? Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and McLeod? All pleaded not guilty. Like, of course they did.
This Trial Is Giving… Chaos. So the trial started in April 2025, but like, plot twist: the judge had to call a mistrial on day one. Then when they tried again, the jury got dismissed because of bias, and now it’s just the judge running the show solo. Like, can this case please get it together?
And babe, the drama from the courtroom? Chef’s kiss. McLeod literally told police in a 2018 video that the whole night was “weird.” Um, yeah. That’s putting it way too lightly. Formenton claimed the victim was “pretty happy,” which like—sir, read the room.
Meanwhile, a guy named Brett Howden (who was there but didn’t get charged) totally flopped on the stand. His memory was basically Swiss cheese, and his testimony was, like, all over the place. The defense was not impressed.
And the Victim? She’s a Queen.Okay, now let’s talk about E.M.—because this girl is honestly a hero. She’s been sitting through this absolute circus in person, and when she testified, it was like… heartbreaking.
She said, yeah, she agreed to be with one player. But when the others showed up? She said no, like, repeatedly. And they didn’t stop. She described just lying there, totally frozen. “I didn’t know what to do,” she said through tears. “I just wanted it to be over.”
Like, can we just pause? That’s horrifying. And she’s been dealing with the fallout every single day since. Panic attacks, depression, and the whole “no one’s gonna believe me” nightmare. But she still got up there and told her truth, because—quote—
“This wasn’t just one night. This has followed me every day since. I didn’t come forward for revenge—I came forward because I want this to stop happening to other women.”
YES, girl. SAY IT.
Women’s advocates in Canada are, like, rallying behind her. One of them, Megan Walker, literally said, “She’s extraordinarily brave.” And honestly? She is.
Hockey Culture Is, Like, Seriously on Trial Too. So beyond just these five guys, people are calling out hockey culture in Canada big time. Like, what kind of system lets players think they can get away with this stuff? Women’s groups are, like, not here for it. They’re calling for mandatory consent training in sports. And, like, duh. It’s 2025—get it together.
Their Careers? Let’s Just Say… Not Great. None of the accused are in the NHL anymore, which like, shocker. Formenton even dipped from his Swiss team last year. Teams are staying way away from them, and fans are super divided. Some are like “due process,” and others are like, “OMG how was this covered up for so long?”
Where Does It All Go From Here? Honestly? The case is still going. But even if there’s no big dramatic courtroom finale, the impact is already huge. It’s about believing survivors. It’s about making sports, like, way less toxic. And most importantly? It’s about E.M.—who turned her nightmare into something powerful.
So yeah. This trial? It’s messy. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s also a moment. A huge one.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
