How women's advocates are using the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial to talk to players about consent

A month after the start of the high-profile sexual assault trial of five former junior hockey players in London, Ont., advocates against gender-based violence are using the proceedings to teach young men about consent and their responsibilities as role models for others. 

"I think for young men and for hockey players, they're watching what these five defendants have gone through and they won't want to be in that position," said Allison Preyde, the manager of prevention and education at Anova, the gender-based violence centre in London. 

"They don't want to be dragged through that to put their careers on the line so we're having conversations about how to make situations safer and what situations aren't worth the risk."

Former hockey teammates Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote are each charged with sexual assault. McLeod is additionally charged with being a party to the offence. 

In June 2018, they were in London for a gala to celebrate their teams' world junior gold medal win earlier that year. After a night of drinking at a local bar, McLeod went home with a woman, known in court proceedings as E.M., for consensual sex. He later invited his teammates to his room to have sexual relations with the woman, something she says she didn't consent to. 

Ex-teammates of accused testify at Hockey Canada sexual assault trial

Their trial started April 22 and included the nine-day testimony and cross-examination by five defence teams of E.M., who said she at times went along with what the men wanted because she was scared and had never been in a similar situation. In the witness box, she described her mind separating from her body as a coping mechanism. 

Evidence presented at trial included text