The verdict marks the end of the highly publicised case, in which the men were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2018.

Years of speculation followed the case — but after revived investigations amid reports Hockey Canada used players' registration fees to pay sexual abuse settlements, it was reopened and made public.

Five former players on Canada's 2018 world junior ice hockey team have been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room that year, a judge said on Thursday.