Another contract for accused 2018 World Junior perpetrator Michael McLeod

Last month, it has been reported that former New Jersey Devils forward and accused 2018 World Juniors perpetrator Michael McLeod had been let go by KHL club Barys Astana, when the team made several cuts back in October.

Some fans believed there was some justice there as it could have somehow been linked to McLeod’s ongoing trial. McLeod is one of the five players that has been charged, along with Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton, with one count of sexual assault, with McLeod also facing an additional charge (being party to the offence) in the 2018 World Junior alleged sexual assault.

It’s alleged the incident occurred following a Hockey Canada gala in Ontario in June 2018, when the players were honoured for their victory at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Court documents from 2022 revealed London police believed they had reasonable grounds to accuse five players of sexually assaulting a young woman in a hotel room.

Since then, respective NHL teams have cut ties with the players, however, Dube has been playing in Europe and now McLeod has signed a new deal. KHL’s Avangard Omsk has announced that they have signed McLeod to a one-year deal.

He had three goals, six points through 16 games played with Barys Astana before having his contract terminated with the team. At the time, he was the team’s leading scorer.

You have to wonder how accused players still get to play professionally when clearly the NHL wants nothing to do with them until they have dealt with the charges and trial.

Sure, he brings 87 games of NHL experience to Avangard Omsk, but that also comes a pending s*xual assault charge, with trial set to take place in April 2025.