Hockey Canada ruling creates dramatically different return paths for five 2018 World Junior players

Hockey Canada's independent appeal board upheld the suspensions of five players involved in an off-ice incident that breached the organization's Code of Conduct, with different return dates and therefore different paths back.

On Wednesday afternoon, Hockey Canada upheld the suspensions of Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod that were given due to an off-ice incident that occurred in 2018 during the World Juniors.

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Hockey Canada's sanctions create five different hockey timelines

The board decided however that all five players will be brought back at different dates, with Formenton able to be reinstated immediately. Cal Foote (until November 10, 2026), Carter Hart (November 10, 2027), Dillon Dubé (November 10, 2028), and Michael McLeod (November 10, 2030) are going to be reintegrated into the Canada system gradually, with McLeod not eligible for another few years.

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Formenton will still need to undergo additional screening from a third-party if he were to ever be in consideration for a Team Canada role, meanwhile the aforementioned four others are not eligible to represent Canada internationally or in any sanctioned events until their suspension has ended.

The NHL question remains separate from Hockey Canada's decision

This hasn't stopped these players from being able to find work elsewhere though, as Hart signed a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights this past season, meanwhile Formenton went overseas to Switzerland, Dube found a home with Springfield in the AHL as did Foote with Chicago.

Some of these players are going to be able to find work elsewhere this year as Hart still has a year left with Vegas and Dube has signed a one-year deal with St. Louis after a strong year with Springfield.

But Formenton, Foote, and McLeod are still looking for deals - with there being no public indication that a team would like to sign them though Foote had a deal with Farjestads in Sweden before public backlash caused them to terminate the deal.

It comes down to roster fit, financial flexibility, and whether or not teams are willing to deal with the potential fan backlash that may come with a signing of one of these players. There are still options for them, but it may not come in the NHL.

For now though, besides Formenton, if these players are going to be considered for any type of Hockey Canada-sanctioned events, they are going to need to wait out the clock.

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