Michael McLeod, a member of Canada’s 2018 junior team who was recently cleared of sexual assault charges, has inked a three-year deal with Avangard Omsk in 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.
The charges against McLeod, along with Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart, stemmed from an incident with a woman following a 2018 gala celebrating the Canadian world junior team’s gold medal. McLeod faced an additional charge related to complicity in the offense. All five players were acquitted on July 24 following a trial in London, Ont.
Although the players are currently suspended by the NHL until December 1, as of October 15, they are permitted to sign with a team while awaiting full reinstatement. McLeod, Dube, Foote, and Hart are unrestricted free agents, while Formenton is a restricted free agent with the Ottawa Senators still holding his rights, although the team has stated he will not be returning.
McLeod, hailing from Mississauga, Ont., previously played in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. He took an indefinite leave on January 24, 2024, before surrendering to authorities in London. Last season, he split his time between Omsk and Barys Astana in the KHL. On the other hand, Formenton is currently competing with the Ambri-Piotta Hockey Club in Switzerland. The Philadelphia Flyers have confirmed that Hart will not be re-signing with their organization, as per his agent’s statement.
