Five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior ice hockey team — Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Cal Foote — were found *not guilty* of sexual assault charges by a judge on Thursday. The charges stemmed from an alleged 2018 incident in a London, Ontario hotel following a Hockey Canada celebration event.All five had faced one count of sexual assault, with McLeod also charged with being a party to the offence. The judge ruled the complainant's testimony lacked credibility and reliability, and the Crown failed to prove lack of consent. McLeod was also cleared of the additional charge.The *NHL responded, saying the players remain **ineligible to play* while they review the judgment. The complainant, known only as E.M., expressed deep disappointment with the verdict and the court's view of her testimony.The trial, which began in April, followed a *reopened investigation* in 2022 after public backlash over reports Hockey Canada used player fees to settle the original complaint. The case had faced setbacks, including a mistrial and two dismissed juries before continuing as a judge-only trial.The scandal previously led to *federal funding cuts*, lost sponsorships, and a leadership overhaul at Hockey Canada. An internal panel's findings on potential code of conduct violations remain under appeal and have not been released. Hockey Canada has withheld further comment pending that appeal's outcome.