Trial For 5 Ex-Team Canada Players Charged With Sexual Assault Won't Start Until After Next NHL Season Starts

Considering it was years before any players from the 2018 Canadian Junior team faced charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault, it shouldn't be a surprise that this will be a long process.

According to TSN's Rick Westhead, a hearing took place on Tuesday that involved setting a date for pre-trial motions before Oct. 23. The judge presiding over the case also scheduled 15 days beginning in late November for hearings on those pre-trial motions.

So, it's now official that a trial for current NHLers Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube, and ex-NHLer Alex Formenton will not take place until after the start of the 2024-25 NHL season.

The Westhead received insight from Toronoto-based lawyer Alison Craig who said pre-trial motions in a case like this could include the defense introducing "text messages, and relevant social media posts, should they exist," as well as medical records pertaining to therapy.

Additionally, Craig touched on the fact that there could be questions about evidence obtained through a Hockey Canada third-party investigation. She told Westhead that some players may have agreed to participate in that investigation, believing that they would not be charged down the line.

The trial for the 5 members of the 2018 Canadian Junior team will not start until after the 2024-25 NHL season begins. (Getty Images)

As you can see, this is going to be a lengthy process. Of course, no one was under any illusions that this would be quick. Investigations were going on for years before the five players were charged. 

Even the players' respective NHL teams were anticipating potential charges. Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella revealed this week that the organizations had discussions about the possibility of losing Hart for the foreseeable future as long ago as last offseason.

"Let's face it: things got thrown into a really weird situation when we lost Carter," Tortorella said, per The Hockey News. "But having said that, we had discussions in the summer about the situation with Carter and figured something was gonna go on, right? We've got to be honest about it."

The next hearing date is set for May 14 in trial scheduling court, per Westhead.