A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by five members of Canada`s 2018 World Junior team testified in court on Monday, according to reports from the Associated Press. She named the accused players as Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote, detailing unwanted sexual acts at a hotel in London, Ontario.
Her testimony described joining McLeod in his hotel room after a gala celebrating the team`s championship win. She stated they had sexual intercourse, after which two more men arrived. While she was in the bathroom, two additional individuals entered the room.
The woman testified that the five men allegedly compelled her to lie on a bedsheet while discussing sexual acts they expected her to perform. She further alleged they exposed themselves, demanding oral sex, and that one individual performed a split over her face.
Describing the experience, she stated, “It felt degrading,” adding, “It was all just a joke to them,” according to the Associated Press.
She also testified that when she went to the bathroom, one of the men followed her inside and had sexual intercourse with her after putting on a condom.
The woman recounted attempting to leave the room multiple times, but said the men persuaded her to remain each time. She expressed uncertainty about how the men would react if she refused their demands.
She described her state of mind during the ordeal, saying, “My mind just shut down.”
All five men have been charged with sexual assault. Michael McLeod faces an additional charge of being a party to sexual assault. McLeod, Hart, Dube, and Foote were active on NHL team rosters at the time the charges were filed.
