In a shocking development, five members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team have been instructed to surrender to the London, Ont., police to face potential sexual assault charges. The players, although not officially charged yet, have been given a specified timeframe to turn themselves in, as reported by The Globe and Mail.

The incident in question dates back to June 19, 2018, when an alleged sexual assault of a woman occurred in a London hotel room following a Hockey Canada Foundation event. The woman later filed a lawsuit against the governing body in April 2022, asserting that she was assaulted by eight players during that night. As per the filed complaint in Ontario Superior Court, members of the 2018 world junior team were among those accused.

Hockey Canada settled the lawsuit in May 2022, prompting both London police and Hockey Canada to reopen investigations into the incident. The National Hockey League (NHL) also initiated its own investigation. Though the initial inquiry conducted by London police ended in February 2019 without any charges being filed, recent developments have arisen.

In October 2022, London police investigators submitted a filing to the Ontario Court of Justice, stating that they had reasonable grounds to believe that five members of the 2018 world junior team were involved in the alleged sexual assault. However, it is crucial to note that the evidence is yet to be tested in court.

Following the public revelation of the allegations, Hockey Canada faced significant public scrutiny. CEO Scott Smith resigned from his position, and the entire board of directors stepped down in October 2022. Subsequently, a new board of directors was elected to serve a special one-year term, focusing on implementing governance reforms within the organization. Katherine Henderson, the former CEO of Curling Canada, was appointed as Hockey Canada's new president and CEO.

Moreover, Hockey Canada's response to the allegations affected the participation of players from the 2018 world junior team in Team Canada's 2023 IIHF Canadian World Championship. These players were not allowed to join the team, highlighting the seriousness with which Hockey Canada is addressing the issue.

The fallout from the allegations has taken a toll on Hockey Canada's relationships with provincial and regional governing bodies, which oversee minor hockey across the country. Some federations even threatened to withhold player participant fees normally paid to Hockey Canada. In response, Hockey Canada decided against collecting any participant assessment fees for the 2022-23 season, attempting to repair the strained relationship.

In addition, major sponsors, including Nike, severed ties with Hockey Canada. Nike, a long-standing partner since 1999, initially suspended its relationship in 2022, ultimately terminating it permanently in July 2023.

As further developments emerge, it remains to be seen how Hockey Canada will navigate these allegations and work toward rebuilding trust within the hockey community. The upcoming legal proceedings will provide an opportunity to examine the evidence and determine the course of action in this deeply troubling case.