Michael McLeod, one of five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team charged with sexual assault, has signed a one-year contract to play Kazakhstan's Barys Astana of the Russian KHL, the team says.

The team announced the signing of McLeod, who used to play with the New Jersey Devils, on Friday via social media and listed him on its roster.

The 26-year-old McLeod, who is from Mississauga, Ont., was drafted 12th overall by the Devils in 2016. In 287 NHL games, he has scored 29 goals and 56 assists.

On July 1, The Hockey News reported that fellow accused Dillon Dubé, who used to play for the Calgary Flames, had signed a deal to play with KHL team Dinamo Minsk, which is based in Belarus.

The sexual assault case of the five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team — McLeod, Dubé, Carter Hart, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton — is set to return to court in August.

The five players were charged earlier this year in connection with an alleged sexual assault at a London, Ont., hotel in 2018.

They are all charged with sexual assault, though McLeod also faces an additional charge of sexual assault for "being a party to the offence."

— With files from The Canadian Press

Former NHLer charged in sexual assault case, Michael McLeod, signs to play in KHL

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