So much for standing up against pedophiles and rapists

this is pathetic letting theses losers back into the NHL

@wndasmaximoff:

this is disgusting, those evil bastards don't deserve to play

Any nhl team will be stupid to sign them. Too much bad pr. Look when montreal picked mailoux and the backlash from it and what mailoux did wasn't close to wait these guys did. They took turns on a drunk girl at a hockey function. No team wants that. Maybe a team overseas.Ya, in rape capitol of the world, Israel

We are pleased to have men accused of gang rape back because we care more about sports than women

@olivia_o18:

This is shameful on every level. These men are rapists, and should be in jail. I don't ever want to hear "allegations ruin men's careers" ever again

@solarbearfan:

This is pathetic on your part none of these guys should be allowed to play in the National Hockey league it's a privilege to play in the NHL and they put a black eye on the game convicted or not these are terrible people and i expected more from you

alcoholawareness Boycott hockey! No longer a fan! The @NHL promote's and profit's from cancer causing alcohol, and gambling! Your greed, and lack of ethic's and morals are disgusting!

@_ashmorrison:

Such a sorry excuse of an association. You guys are complicit in preserving and excusing toxic hockey culture. I hope no team touches these players with a ten foot pole

These 5 piles of garbage are fringe NHLers at best. They shouldn't be in the league for a multitude of reasons, number 1 being that they gang raped a woman.

Ruined my "hockey is back excitement" . F off letting these terrible people back into the league

@devon__305:

Weak ass justice system.It's a World-Class Pro Rape abuser of victims, kinda like AER. Nothing justice about it.

@SnowyBytes:

What happens when they do it again? That judge should have called a mistrial after the second jury had to be selected. Nothing will change to protect women from revered jocks on power trips. I've seen this in high school, NCAA and now professional sports. Disgusting

@McJohnson922:

Fuck those sex pests and fuck you for defending them.

@hydr0chaeris:

Next do a statement on how you are going to handle alienating all the women who heard and read the words of these men.

@releasethekakko:

breaking your back for 5 shit hockey players is crazy. hockey isn't for everyone hockey is for rapists and racists and you allow it to happen

@JasparColeman:

Fucking freaks. Here to protect players? How about protecting women???

fuck you you fucking rape apologists. shouldn't even be called a union

@mvt_vts13:

disgusting. they should never be allowed to skate on NHL ice.

@Naumiyyc:

Yet again you proved that you will sell your mothers and daughters for making a quick buck, literally

@sammyersson:

What a shameful union. This isnt protecting players its harming others and endangering other players by allowing such repugnant scum back in.

@jennAA2014:

Absolutely shameful. No one has the right to play in the NHL. Their conduct was unacceptable and abhorrent. This does nothing to improve the game and make it safer for everyone.

@CrazySadAzn:

calling behaviour disturbing and unacceptable then proceeding to allow the players who exhibited that behaviour back into the league. that's the nhl in a nutshell.

@kelseadurham Sept 11, 2025:

I decide I am going to use my voice and my platform to speak for those who may be scared or unable to.

How are we, as women, supposed to feel safe in a fanbase and a community that allows this to happen?

It's exhausting to watch the NHL keep choosing players and profits over what truly matters.

Being acquitted does not erase what happened and it does not reverse all the damage that has been caused. It does not make survivors feel safer.

The NHL keeps telling us it wants to "grow the game."

But how do you grow something when you ignore accountability, push empty agendas, and show fans their safety doesn't matter?

I love this sport. It's given so much to me.

But it is heartbreaking to see the people in charge treat survivors' voices like they're disposable.

They say "Hockey is for Everyone", but in reality, this sport still has the old boys club mentality, which lets abusers and r*pists (who should be shunned from hockey) to play.

Disgusting for a professional league, especially the NHL, to go forward with this.

@cvtvb:

NHL players union got it wrong, they should not want the union to be tarnished by these players, they should have led the charge to have them sanctioned for life.

@pwalsh1980:

What a joke..they should never be ever allowed to play again in any league...

@TammyBu65502331:

Gross. Love how this is dropped when the news is so busy atm

@CDNPoliDiva:

I swear to God, you guys are so spineless and absence of any moral compass. This league makes me sick.

@NHLPA Sept 11, 2025:

NHLPA statement on Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod:

Disgusting union. Immoral and without integrity.

@jupitershrry:

once again, you cannot claim "hockey is for everyone" when SO many of your players, teams, coaches, etc. continue to support and have beliefs that go against that very agenda. do better @NHL.

@Stephabues:

i LOVE hockey, and watching the nhl brings me so much joy! but sexual assault and the trauma it brings me and other victims affects our everyday lives. we cant just sit around and ignore it because most women are victims- including myself. this is not a safe place for us.

@joesnicky:

don't really have much to say beyond how embarrassing it is to be an NHL fan right now

not surprised one bit the old boys club rolling out the red carpet for the gang bang 5

next thing y'all should do is stop with the whole "hockey is for everyone" thing seeing as you clearly don't care about women at all.

Y'all can actually eat shit. It's bad enough that yall allow racists and domestic abusers to play. Now to allow predators in the league is egregious. It's a privilege not a right. Nice to see what kind of men yall are.

Players acquitted in Hockey Canada sex assault trial can play NHL games starting Dec. 1, All 5 athletes are UFAs and can sign with a team Oct. 15 before full rein by CBC, Sept 11, 2025

The five players acquitted in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial can return to the NHL when their suspensions end on Dec. 1, the NHL announced Thursday.

The players, who are all unrestricted free agents, can sign with a team on Oct. 15 as they wait for full reinstatement.

Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart were all charged with one count of sexual assault and pleaded not guilty when the trial opened in April.

MacLeod had also been charged with one count of being a party to the offences.

The five players were acquitted of all charges on July 24 after a two-month trial in London, Ont.

Following the ruling, the NHL had said the players would be ineligible to compete and that the league would review the judge's findings.

The NHL conducted its own investigation beginning in the spring of 2022 when the allegations came to light. It called the events that transpired "deeply troubling and unacceptable" and that while they were not found to be criminal, said the players' conduct did not meet the standard of moral integrity.

The players met with league officials after the ruling and expressed regret and remorse, the NHL said. Keeping them from playing until Dec. 1 brings their total time away to nearly two years.

The NHL Players' Association in a statement said it was pleased Dube, Foote, Formenton Hart and McLeod are getting the opportunity to resume their careers

"The players co-operated with every investigation," the union said. "Upon their full acquittal by Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia, we initiated discussions with the NHL regarding the players' return to work. To avoid a protracted dispute that would cause further delay, we reached the resolution that the league announced today. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to the players' return."

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly, earlier in the week, said an update was coming "in the relatively near future" and declined to go into the contents of the investigative process.

"Obviously, we take the matter very seriously, and that's why it's still under review," Daly said Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Asked about Hart on Thursday in Voorhees, New Jersey, the head of the company that owns the Flyers, said they would not comment at this point.

"The NHL's made it clear they'll speak first," Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO Dan Hilferty said. "But right now, we're not prepared to comment on the Carter Hart situation. The NHL has told us they are running the show."

Hart, McLeod, Dube and Foote last took part in NHL games in January 2024 before leaving their teams with charges pending. It was not immediately clear how many of the players would be signed when eligible, though Hart as a 27-year-old goaltender with significant experience appears to be the most likely.

With files from Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press