Tuesday marked the first day of the sexual assault trial of former Hockey Canada world junior players Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Cal Foote.

The five former NHL players are accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ont., hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala in June 2018. The woman’s identity is protected by a publication ban, and she was referred to as E.M. in court.

McLeod, Formenton, Dube, Hart and Foote are charged with one count each of sexual assault, while McLeod faces an additional count of being party to the offense.

The accused players each pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday morning.

The five men walked into the London courtroom – they were told they must be in court for the entire trial. Five tables were arranged in a line along the right side, with each defendant sitting at one with their respective legal teams – McLeod up front, followed by Hart, Formenton, Dube and Foote. While there was the odd smile here and there, the air in the courtroom was reasonably tense.

After the “not guilty” pleas, Crown attorney Meaghan Cunningham read aloud a list of potential witnesses expected to testify during the trial. This list included multiple members of the 2018 world junior team, including some current NHL players competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

They include the Ottawa Senators’ Drake Batherson, Washington Capitals’ Taylor Raddysh, St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas, Dallas Stars’ Sam Steel, Vegas Golden Knights’ Brett Howden and Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar.

These players will be accommodated accordingly, likely through a live video feed if they are called upon to testify.

Trial For Former Canadian World Junior Players Set To Begin Tuesday: What Led To It, And What’s Next On Tuesday, five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior Championship team are expected to go on trial in London, Ont, after being charged with sexual assault 15 months ago.

Apart from the pleas and potential witnesses, the day was all about jury selection. As each potential jury member was ushered into the court, they were questioned by the presiding judge, Justice Maria Carroccia, who expressed the importance of jury selection.

It is “one of the most important duties you can be called upon to participate in as a citizen of Canada,” Carroccia said. 

The questions Carrocia asked the potential jury members covered multiple areas, including whether they had prejudices or opinions they would be unable to set aside regarding the five accused men and hockey players as a whole.

After the hours-long process was completed, 14 jurors were selected, 11 women and three men. Twelve of them will deliberate and render a verdict. There are also alternate jurors – a man and a woman – chosen in case someone else has to be excused. 

These jurors and the accused will return on Wednesday as the Crown is expected to present their opening statement.