PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart was one of five professional hockey players charged with sexual assault Monday in London, Ontario.
After the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, and Alex Formenton were celebrating their team’s win when they allegedly met the victim at a downtown bar and later invited her to a hotel room where the sexual assault took place, according to London Police Chief Thai Truong.
According to the NHL, an original investigation into the case found there were insufficient grounds for charges. A 2022 investigation with more witnesses unveiled new evidence, resulting in the current charges.
McLeod, a forward for the New Jersey Devils, was charged with two counts of sexual assault. Foote, a defenseman for the Devils; Dube, a forward for the Calgary Flames; Alex Formenton, whose playing rights belong to the Ottowa Senators; and Hart were charged with one count.
Hart, playing his sixth season with the Flyers, has been on a leave of absence from the team since Jan. 23. The other four are now also on leave.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he does not believe Hart, McLeod, Foote, or Dube will return to their NHL teams this season. They are all still being paid.
Lawyers for the players all have stated their clients are innocent and will plead not guilty.