Michael McLeod, one of five members of Canada’s 2018 junior team recently acquitted of sexual assault charges , has signed a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League.

Omsk confirmed the signing on Thursday in a post on the social media platform X.

McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart were charged with one count of sexual assault stemming from an encounter with a woman in a London hotel room after a 2018 gala celebrating the Canadian world junior team’s gold medal. McLeod also was charged with one count of being a party to the offence.

The five players were acquitted July 24 in a trial in London .

The players, none of whom are under an NHL contract, remain suspended by the NHL until Dec. 1, but the league has sai

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