Alex Formenton has been charged with one count of sexual assault. The same applies to current NHL players Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Carter Hart. Michael McLeod has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. The incident in question occurred in June 2018 after a Hockey Canada Gala at which the 2018 World Junior team was celebrated for its gold-medal win.
The first hearing took place on Monday. None of the players attended, their lawyers participated via video call. The next hearing will take place on April 30.
In a statement, HC Ambrì-Piotta, Formenton's current team, declared that for the time being, the player would remain in Canada to "better organize his defense." "The contract is suspended, formally he remains an Ambrì-Piotta player," Filippo Lombardi, president of HCAP, said in "RSI"'s "That's hockey".