5 former World Junior Hockey players expected to face sex assault charges: report

WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it

Five former 2018 world junior hockey players have been told to surrender themselves to police in London, Ont., to face sexual assault charges in a high-profile case that has embroiled the sport's governing body in controversy, the Globe and Mail reports.

London Police declined to comment publicly on the status of the case Wednesday. CBC News has not independently verified the Globe and Mail report.

"We do not have any additional information to share at this time," said London Police Acting Sgt. Sandasha Bough in an email to CBC News.

Court documents in 2022 revealed London Police believed they had reasonable grounds to accuse the players of sexually assaulting a young woman in a London, Ont., hotel room in June 2018.

London police closed the case in 2018, then re-opened it in 2022 in response to public outrage following a lawsuit.

CBC's The Fifth Estate has reported that the first investigation was described as "cursory at best" by experts.

The alleged victim, known only as "E.M." in court documents, sued eight unnamed players, Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League for more than $3.5 million. Hockey Canada settled that lawsuit.

E.M.'s statement of claim alleged the woman, who was 20 at the time, met the players when the World Juniors champions were in London for the Hockey Canada Foundation Gala and Golf event.

The statement of claim alleged she went to a player's hotel room afterward and engaged in sexual acts with him.

The statement of claim alleged that at some point, the player allowed seven others to enter the room without her "knowledge or consent."

The statement of