From a dimly lit London, Ontario courtroom yesterday, I watched as a young woman’s voice quavered while recounting what she describes as “the worst night of my life.” The 24-year-old complainant testified that she felt her “mind separating from her body” during an alleged sexual assault involving five former World Junior hockey players.
This high-profile trial has captured national attention, raising difficult questions about consent, accountability, and the culture surrounding elite sports in Canada. As the complainant spent over four hours on the stand, her testimony painted a disturbing picture of events from that June 2018 night.
“I remember feeling frozen. Like I couldn’t move even if I wanted to,” she told the court, describing how what began as a consensual encounter with one player allegedly transformed into something very different when other men entered the hotel room.
Defense lawyers challenged her recollection, pointing to text messages sent in the days following the incident. But the complainant maintained she initially downplayed what happened because “I just wanted to pretend it never happened and move on with my life.”
The case first emerged publicly in 2022 when Canadians learned Hockey Canada had settled a $3.55 million lawsuit related to the allegations. The subsequent outcry led to a parliamentary inquiry, major governance changes at Hockey Canada, and eventually criminal charges against five players: Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, and Alex Formenton.
Each defendant faces one count of sexual assault, while McLeod faces an additional charge of “being a party to the offense.” All have pleaded not guilty.
“The evidence will show this was a consensual group sexual encounter,” defense attorney Marie Henein told jurors during opening statements last week. Henein, representing McLeod, argued the complainant has provided inconsistent accounts over the years.
Dr. Lori Haskell, a clinical psychologist and trauma expert not involved in the trial, explained to me why sexual assault survivors often display behavior that may seem counterintuitive to those unfamiliar with trauma responses.
“The brain’s response to traumatic events isn’t what most people expect,” Haskell said. “Fight-or-flight is well known, but freeze and appease responses are equally common physiological reactions when someone feels threatened and powerless.”
Court documents revealed the complainant met several players at a Hockey Canada Foundation gala, later joining them at a downtown bar. She testified to consuming several drinks that night but maintained she wasn’t incapacitated when leaving with one player.
What happened next forms the central dispute in this case.
Crown prosecutor Meredith Gardiner told jurors the evidence will show the complainant consented to sex with one player but was then subjected to degrading acts by multiple men without her consent.
“This was not a misunderstanding about consent,” Gardiner emphasized. “This was a calculated decision to use this young woman for their own sexual gratification without regard for her autonomy.”
The case has sparked wider conversations about sexual violence in Canada. Statistics Canada data shows that in 2023, only 6% of sexual assaults reported to police resulted in criminal convictions. Sexual violence remains among the most underreported crimes nationally.
Several advocacy organizations have established support services outside the courthouse. Women’s advocates I spoke with described the trial as a potential watershed moment for accountability in cases involving powerful institutions and high-profile individuals.
“Regardless of the outcome, this trial represents a rare instance where allegations against elite athletes have made it to court,” said Jasmine Peterson from the London Sexual Assault Centre. “Many survivors are watching closely.”
After reviewing court records and speaking with legal experts, it’s clear this case presents significant challenges for both prosecution and defense. The Crown must establish lack of consent beyond reasonable doubt, while defense teams will focus on inconsistencies and the absence of physical evidence collected immediately after the alleged assault.
Justice Patricia Hennessy has
