BREAKING: FOUR 2018 WORLD JUNIOR PLAYERS REMAIN SUSPENDED BY HOCKEY CANADA

Four players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior hockey team will remain suspended from Hockey Canada activities after an independent appeal board ruled that five players breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.

Cal Foote will remain suspended until November 10, 2026, Carter Hart until November 10, 2027, Dillon Dubé until November 10, 2028, and Michael McLeod until November 10, 2030. Alex Formenton has been reinstated immediately.

The five players were acquitted of sexual assault charges in an Ontario court in July 2025. The Hockey Canada process was separate from the criminal proceedings and considered whether the players breached the organization’s code of conduct, rather than whether they were guilty of a criminal offence.

So what does a Hockey Canada suspension actually mean?

While suspended, the four players are barred from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programming. Hockey Canada has previously said suspended players are ineligible to play, coach, officiate or volunteer in its sanctioned programs.

Importantly, that includes representing Canada internationally. A suspended player could not be selected to play for Team Canada in a Hockey Canada-sanctioned international competition while their suspension remains in effect.

The Hockey Canada suspensions do not, however, automatically prevent the players from playing professional hockey in leagues outside Hockey Canada’s jurisdiction. The NHL, for example, is a separate organization and makes its own decisions about player eligibility.

Hockey Canada said Wednesday that any player being considered for a future national team will also have to undergo its enhanced screening process, which includes a third-party review of the findings concerning the 2018 World Junior team.

The appeal board’s ruling brings Hockey Canada’s appeal process, which dates back to an independent adjudicative panel report from November 2023, to an end.

This is a developing story.