Four Canadian hockey players, previously acquitted of sexual assault charges, remain suspended from Hockey Canada after an appeals board determined they had violated the organization's code of conduct. A fifth player involved in the case has been reinstated.
The incident in question occurred in 2018 in London, Ontario, where the players were attending a gala. The woman, identified as EM, accused the players of assaulting her in a hotel room. The central issue in the subsequent trial was whether EM, who was 20 at the time, had consented to all sexual acts that night.
In July 2025, Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted the players, stating that EM's evidence was neither credible nor reliable. The defense argued that EM had invited the men to have sex with her and that the players believed she consented to the encounters. EM, however, testified that she was intoxicated and felt fearful, asserting that while she consented to initial sexual activity with one player, she did not agree to what followed.
Despite the players' acquittal, an appeals board has ruled that the group as a whole breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct. This ruling has led to the continued suspension of four players. The case, which took place eight years ago, continues to resonate in Canada.
Adam van Koeverden, Canada's secretary of sport, commented on the decision, noting that the case initiated a national discussion about safe sports practices and the culture within men's hockey. He stated that the voices of women and survivors have driven progress in addressing "toxic culture" and that Hockey Canada has been working to rectify long-standing systemic issues. Van Koeverden emphasized the need for national sport organizations to be held accountable for their conduct.