NHL teams fire players accused of sexual harassment in Canada

NHL teams have cut ties with four players who were charged earlier this year in a 2018 sexual assault case.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart, Calgary Flames forward Dillon Dube and two New Jersey Devils players, forward Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, did not receive qualifying offers by Sunday’s deadline for NHL teams to retain their restricted free agents.

Those four were charged with sexual assault in February, along with former Ottawa Senators player Alex Formenton. McLeod faces two charges and the others face one charge.

According to police, the attack occurred in London, Ontario, following a gala hosted by Hockey Canada to honor the gold medal-winning 2018 World Junior Championship team.

“After the incident, the accused and several teammates met the victim in a city center bar and later invited her to a hotel room where the sexual assault by the now accused persons took place,” London Police Commissioner Thai Truong said at a press conference in February.

The four NHL players had asked their teams for indefinite leave and were granted it. Lawyers for Hart and the other players said they would contest the charges in court.