Were they men or were they boys?
A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by five former world junior hockey players was questioned this morning on the word she used to describe the accused.
The complainant, who was 20 at the time of the alleged incident, has referred to the players and their entourage as men throughout her testimony.
In cross-examination today, defence lawyer Julianna Greenspan said the woman had called them boys in a 2018 statement to police, and suggested the complainant changed her language at trial because she came in with “an agenda.”
The woman denied having an agenda and said that regardless of how she previously spoke, at 18 and 19 years old, the players were men.
Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.
The events at the heart of the case took place in June 2018 as several members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team were in London for a gala marking their championship win.
At least two of the defence lawyers have referred to the accused as boys during the trial, which began late last month.
The complainant has been testifying via CCTV since May 2, with more than a full week spent on cross-examination by the defence.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
The Canadian Press
