Shocking testimony from Team Canada teammate is the last straw for alleged victim in 2018 World Juniors case

On Wednesday, after seven days of gruelling cross-examination by the defence lawyers of Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod, the alleged victim in 2018 World Juniors case was once again questioned by the Crown with the opportunity of clarifying anything that may have come up during that questioning.

She finished being asked questions, then being cross-examined and re-examined, after she started testifying on May 2, just after 2 p.m. ET.

** IMPORTANT CORRECTION: Tyler Steenbergen is a Crown's witness. ** 

After E.M. was done giving her evidence, the next witness was called to the stand. Tyler Steenbergen, who was a member of the 2018 Team Canada junior roster and scored the game-winning goal against Sweden in the final, was asked about the club’s celebrations after the gala to celebrate their gold medal and admitted that some staff members and Hockey Canada staff went to a pub or restaurant.

While he revealed that he was “drunk but not overly drunk,” Steenbergen did see “Mikey and the girl” at Jack’s when he was on his way to the bathroom.

He didn’t note how drunk McLeod (who friends call Mikey) or the woman he was with were. Steenbergen then claimed he later headed to McLeod’s hotel room after someone texted to let them know there was food there. Once he got there, he became a witness in this trial.

The following breakdown of Steenbergen’s testimony is from CBC, and be careful, it contains graphic details.

“Steenbergan says he, Dubé and Bean went to McLeod’s room and saw teammates Sam Steele, Carter Hart, Max Comtois, Drake Batherson, Brett Howden, Alex Formenton and McLeod.

Steenbergen says that when he went to sit down at the desk at the far side of the room, he heard someone say, “Guys, there’s a naked girl in the bathroom.”

He testifies he was shocked to learn that. Soon after, he says, a naked woman came out of the bathroom.

“She went onto the floor and started masturbating and asked guys to come have sex with her,” Steenbergen says. “She said, ‘Can one of you guys come over and f–k me?’”

That’s when Hart got oral sex from her, Steenbergen says, and it lasted for about 30 seconds or a minute.

“He unbuckled his belt and pulled [his pants] down toward his knees.”

Steenbergen says that while this was happening, he was trying to have a conversation with someone else, so wasn’t paying much attention.

After that, Steenbergen says, he remembers the woman saying, “You guys are being pussies” and then he remembers McLeod “getting a blow job” in a similar manner to Hart.”

If he is being truthful, Steenbergen’s testimony might have sealed the deal for E.M., as many fans are starting to question her motives in this trial—though she did mention several times that she did not ask police to reopen their investigation in 2022. The initial investigation was closed in 2019. It's worth noting that under Canadian law, the legal duty to ensure there is consent in sexual activity lies with the person initiating the act. 

The accused — Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod — have all pleaded not guilty.

Proceedings have ended for the day.