Michael McLeod signed a one-year contract with the KHL’s Avangard Omsk on Tuesday after his previous contract in the Russian league was terminated earlier this season.
McLeod, who is one of five former Junior Team Canada players accused of sexual assault, had his previous contract with Barys Astana terminated on October 18. The 26-year-old forward had scored three goals and collected six points in 16 games with Barys Astana.
The jury trial for the five players – Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and McLeod – is scheduled to begin on April 22, 2025. They are all accused of sexual assault, and McLeod faces an additional charge of sexual assault for having “participated in the offense”.
The charges against the five players on the Canadian team participating in the 2018 World Juniors result from an investigation into an alleged sexual assault that occurred during a golf tournament and gala hosted by Hockey Canada in London, Ontario, in June 2018. Lawyers for the five players denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their clients and said they would plead not guilty.
Dube also currently plays in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, based in Belarus, while Foote continues his career in Slovakia with Liptovsky Mikulas HK.
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