Michael McLeod, part of the group of five Canadian junior team members acquitted of sexual assault charges in 2018, has inked a three-year deal with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) based in Russia. The signing by Omsk was officially announced on Thursday through a post on the social media platform X.
McLeod, along with Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart, faced allegations of sexual assault following an incident with a woman after a 2018 gala celebrating the Canadian world junior team’s gold medal. McLeod was additionally charged with aiding the offense. However, all five players were cleared of the charges on July 24 in a trial held in London, Ontario.
Although the players are currently not tied to any NHL contracts, they are still under NHL suspension until December 1. Nevertheless, the league has granted them permission to join a team from October 15 while awaiting full reinstatement.
McLeod, Dube, Foote, and Hart are unrestricted free agents, whereas Formenton is a restricted free agent with the Ottawa Senators holding his rights. The Senators have confirmed that Formenton will not be making a return to the team. Additionally, the Philadelphia Flyers have announced that Hart will not be renewing his contract with their franchise as per his agent.
Hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, McLeod’s most recent NHL stint was with the New Jersey team. He took an indefinite leave on January 24, 2024, prior to surrendering to London authorities. Last season, he split his time between Omsk and Barys Astana in the KHL. On the other hand, Formenton is currently showcasing his skills with the Ambri-Piotta Hockey Club in Switzerland.