NHL player Michael McLeod faces sexual assault charges in Canadian investigation, lawyer says

WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect people who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.

Michael McLeod of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils has been charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged group incident in 2018 in London, Ontario, while he was a member of the Canadian World Junior Hockey Championship.

Lawyers for the 25-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, confirmed the charges in a statement to CBC News on Tuesday.

“Mr. McLeod denies any criminal wrongdoing,” said David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein.

“He will plead not guilty and defend the case vigorously,” the statement said. “None of the evidence has been presented, let alone tested in court. We ask that the public respect the privacy of Mr. McLeod and his family. As the matter is now before the courts, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

News of the charges came two days after Alex Formenton, also a member of the 2018 junior team, appeared at the London Police Service (LPS) headquarters to face charges of sexual assault.

Players were suspended from their teams before charges were filed

A handful of other players from the 2018 team have requested and received vacation leave from their NHL and European teams this week. London police have not named any of the defendants or released details of the charges.

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The LPS has called a press conference for Monday at which further details are expected to be announced.

The incident is alleged to have occurred following a Hockey Canada gala in the southwestern Ontario city in June 2018, where players were honoured for their victory at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

Canadian professional ice hockey player Alex Formenton (centre) enters police headquarters in London on Sunday after turning himself in in the 2018 junior ice hockey scandal. (CBC)

Court documents from 2022 show that London police believed they had sufficient grounds to charge five players with sexually abusing a young woman in a hotel room.

Police closed the case in 2018 but reopened it in 2022 in response to public outrage following a lawsuit.

The alleged victim, known in court documents only as EM, sued eight unnamed players, Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League for more than $3.5 million. Hockey Canada settled the case with the court.

For anyone who has been sexually abused, there is support available through crisis hotlines and local support services through these Canadian Government website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, please call 911.