Ontario Ministry shares how it aims to handle media coverage around 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial: Report 

The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has given an update on how it plans to handle the media involving Canada's 2018 World Junior Teams sexual assault case.

London police charged former NHL players Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton with sexual assault in January. It came after years of investigation.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the media will be looking to attend the trials, which are set to begin soon, the Ontario Ministry has said that they are looking to make it remote for media to make it easier for the trial to push through.

"Ontario's ministry of the attorney general has provided details for how it plans to accommodate media coverage of the trial of the five players from Canada's 2018 World Juniors team who have been charged with sexual assault. Pre-trial motions are scheduled for Sept. 5-6, Nov. 25-Dec. 13, and Jan. 27-31 in London. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, 2025," Rick Westhead reported.

"(A trial could begin as early as April if pre-trial motions are wrapped up before then.) Because space in the courtroom is limited, media and family members and close friends of the complainant and the accused who agree to the court's terms will be provided with access to a remote videoconference of the proceedings," Westhead added.

The five former NHL players are accused of sexually assaulting a girl for several hours in London after a gala to celebrate the team winning the World Junior gold medal.

In 2022, Hockey Canada settled a $3.55 million lawsuit brought by the girl, which TSN reported they did without consulting any players involved in the alleged incident.

Hockey Canada World Juniors case to be heard by jury

The start date of the trial is not set, but the five players agreed to have the trial by a jury.

“Earlier this week, all five players selected a trial by jury, and they are confident that jurors drawn from the community will decide this case fairly and impartially after hearing all the evidence and testimony,” lawyers representing the accused players wrote in a joint statement to TSN.

The players will also be tried together, as they face one count each of sexual assault; McLeod also faces one count of being party to the offense.

All five players are no longer under NHL contracts but all were granted indefinite leaves by their teams. Alex Formenton was playing in Europe and was also granted an indefinite leave.