Makar, Other Stars Ineligible for Team Canada Until Investigation Over

Hockey Canada made waves Monday when they declared members of the 2018 World Junior Championships team, including Cale Makar and other NHL stars, will not be eligible to play for Canada in the 2023 World Championships or future Team Canada tournaments until the investigation into potential sexual assault is complete.

Canadian outlet Sportsnet received a statement from Hockey Canada. “Earlier this year, Hockey Canada made a decision that until the investigation and adjudicative process of the alleged incident in 2018 are complete, no players from the 2018 National Junior Team will be considered for participation for Team Canada,” said the statement sent to Sportsnet. “This has been communicated to the management group for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship.”

London, Ontario, police have submitted the finding of their investigation to the Ontario Court of Justice, finding “reasonable grounds” that five team members committed sexual assault.

No charges have yet been filed.

In addition to Makar, additional NHL players, including Carter Hart (Flyers), Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas (Blues), Drake Batherson (Senators), Dillon Dube (Flames), and Connor Timmons (Maple Leafs) are some of the team members now ineligible.

Earlier Monday, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage passed a motion demanding Hockey Canada turn over its findings to the committee. News broke last May that members of the team were accused of group sexual assault at a team event in London, Ontario.