Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that it accepted the recommendation of an independent appeal board to continue the suspension of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, setting his reinstatement date for Nov. 10, 2027.
The appeal board confirmed that five members of the 2018 Canadian world junior team - Hart, Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod - had breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct. In January 2024, all five were charged with sexual assault relating to an alleged incident in June 2018. They were acquitted in July 2025 but remained formally suspended by Hockey Canada pending the completion of the appeal.
In addition to Hart, the appeal board recommended continued suspensions and reinstatement dates for the other players, all of which Hockey Canada accepted:
- Formenton: Reinstated immediately
- Foote: Suspended until Nov. 10, 2026
- Dube: Suspended until Nov. 10, 2028
- McLeod: Suspended until Nov. 10, 2030
The next IIHF World Championship is scheduled for May 2027, while the next best-on-best international event is the World Cup of Hockey in February 2028.
The NHL had suspended Hart, Formenton, Foote, Dube, and McLeod through Dec. 1, 2025, following their acquittal, though Hart was the only one to play in the NHL last season. He joined the Golden Knights after signing a contract in October, eventually becoming Vegas' starting goaltender. Hart started every playoff game for the Golden Knights as Vegas lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
The St. Louis Blues signed Dube on July 1. Foote, Formenton, and McLeod remain NHL free agents.
Foote had his contract with a team in Sweden terminated in July, just days after signing, amid fan backlash.
