Report: Five Team Canada 2018 World Junior team members ordered to surrender to police to face sexual assault charges

Five members of the Team Canada gold medal-winning 2018 World Junior Championship roster have been ordered by London, Ont., police to surrender to face charges of sexual assault, according to The Globe and Mail.

The five players, who have not yet been charged, have also not yet been identified. The pending charges stem from an alleged group sexual assault of a woman in June 2018 following a Hockey Canada gala in London to celebrate their team win six months earlier in Buffalo.

It is unclear when exactly the players have been summoned to appear in London, though the Globe reported that they have been given a set time to present themselves at London Police Service headquarters.

London Police initially investigated the alleged sexual assault and closed the case without charges in 2019. However, the alleged victim filed a civil suit in court, which TSN revealed was quietly settled by Hockey Canada for millions of dollars, embroiling the organization in controversy that led to a complete house cleaning of the Board of Directors and leadership, as well as increased government scrutiny.

As a result of the reporting that followed, London Police reopened their investigation in 2022, leading to the pending charges for five players on Wednesday.

NHL sources told Daily Faceoff that the league’s investigation into the incident, which is ongoing, and any subsequent punishment would not proceed until after the London Police finished their investigation.

The NHL Players’ Association said it planned to offer comment when and if official charges are laid by the London Police Service.

When contacted by Daily Faceoff on Tuesday night, the London Police Service said they had no further information.

“We are unable to provide an update at this time,” spokesperson acting Sgt. Sandasha Bough wrote in an email. “When there is further information to share regarding this investigation, we will be in contact with media outlets.”