Michael McLeod, a member of Canada’s 2018 junior team recently cleared of sexual assault charges, has inked a three-year deal with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) based in Russia. The signing was officially announced by Omsk on Thursday through a post on the social media platform X.
McLeod, along with Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart, had faced accusations of sexual assault following an incident with a woman after a 2018 gala celebrating the Canadian world junior team’s gold medal. McLeod was specifically charged as a party to the offense. However, all five players were acquitted on July 24 after a trial in London, Ont.
Although the players are currently under NHL suspension until December 1, as they are not under NHL contracts, they are permitted to sign with a team starting October 15 while awaiting full reinstatement. McLeod, Dube, Foote, and Hart are unrestricted free agents, while Formenton is a restricted free agent with the Ottawa Senators indicating that he will not be returning to the team.
Carter Hart will also not be renewing his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers according to his agent. McLeod, hailing from Mississauga, Ont., most recently played in the NHL with New Jersey before taking an indefinite leave on Jan. 24, 2024, and eventually turning himself in to authorities in London. He split his previous season between Omsk and Barys Astana in the KHL. Currently, Formenton is competing with the Ambri-Piotta Hockey Club in Switzerland.
