Former Team Canada Players Sign with KHL Amid Sexual Assault Charges

Author:

Olivia Phillips

|Published: August 8th, 2024

Two former Team Canada junior hockey players, Michael McLeod and Dillon Dubé, facing trial for an alleged group sexual assault in 2018, have signed contracts with teams in the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

McLeod, formerly with the New Jersey Devils, will play for Kazakhstan's Astana Barys, while Dubé, an ex-Calgary Flames player, joins Belarus's Dinamo Minsk.

Both players, along with three other former junior teammates, await trial for the incident that allegedly occurred after a Hockey Canada Foundation event in London, Ontario.

The NHL has not disciplined the players, with Commissioner Gary Bettman opting to let the court proceedings unfold first.

Legal experts and sports scholars highlight the differing ethical standards in international leagues, with Russian teams appearing less stringent about players facing serious charges.

Ethical Concerns and International Standards

The decision for McLeod and Dubé to play in the KHL has sparked ethical debates.

Laura Misener, a sports scholar at Western University, noted that the seriousness of the charges would draw criticism if the players were allowed to play in North America.

Russian teams, however, seem more inclined to await the decision of the trial before deeming them guilty.

Suzie Dunn, a law professor at Dalhousie University, emphasized the need for professional athletes to uphold high conduct standards, suggesting that players facing serious charges should refrain from participating in games until the legal process is complete.

Legal Perspectives on Mobility and Travel

London lawyer Nick Cake explained that courts typically do not restrict the freedom of those charged unless deemed a flight risk, allowing the players to travel and work abroad.

The players are expected back in court next month to set a trial date.