NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has stated that he anticipates a decision will be made in the near future regarding the status of the five former Hockey Canada players who were acquitted in a high-profile sexual assault case. The players in question are Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Callan Foote, all of whom were found not guilty on July 24 in London, Ontario. McLeod was also acquitted of an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault.

The case stemmed from an encounter that occurred in a hotel room in June 2018, following a celebration of the World Juniors team victory. The allegations and subsequent trial have garnered significant attention across Canada, sparking renewed conversations about consent and hockey culture.

Following the acquittal, the NHL declared that the players would remain ineligible to play in the league while it reviewed the findings of the case. This decision was met with disapproval from the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), which argued that the players should be allowed to return to their careers. Hockey Canada has also maintained its suspension of the five athletes from all of its sanctioned programming.

Daly addressed reporters at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas, where he stated that he expects a decision soon, though he did not provide a specific timeline. He emphasized that the NHL is taking the matter "very seriously," which is why it remains under review.

The journey to this point has been complex. The London Police initially closed their investigation in early 2019 but reopened it in July 2025. In February 2024, the five players were charged with sexual assault. Prior to this, four of the players took leaves of absence from their NHL teams, and Formenton left his Swiss professional club. All five players pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Crown prosecutors will not appeal the court's decision.

The NHL launched its own investigation in 2022 and pledged to release the findings, though the extent of what the league can disclose depends on the legal proceedings. The NHL has stated that the allegations were "very disturbing" and the behavior of the players "unacceptable," even though they were not deemed criminal. The NHLPA, however, has argued that the NHL's decision to keep the players ineligible is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

The case has already had a significant impact on Hockey Canada, leading to the suspension of federal funding, the loss of major corporate sponsors, and a revamping of its executive board. The organization also banned all members of the 2018 junior national team from Hockey Canada activities, a prohibition that is still in effect.