ST. LOUIS — For the first time since signing a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1, Dillon Dube spoke publicly about the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial that ended with an acquittal in July 2025.

Though not wanting to disclose too much about his personal journey since being acquitted, Dube acknowledged he has been in therapy for three years.

“It’s been a lot … and I’ll just kind of keep that to myself, to be honest,” the 28-year-old said at the Blues’ practice facility. “But yeah, (the therapy) is something that I’m proud that I’ve done throughout these years, and I’m going to continue to do it.”

Dube, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton and Cal Foote were members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors hockey team. They were charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in June 2018 in which a woman known publicly as E.M. — her identity is protected by a publication ban — said she was sexually assaulted over the span of several hours in a London, Ont., hotel room. The players were in town for a Hockey Canada event celebrating their victory at the World Junior Championship earlier that year.

In July 2025, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia announced that she did not find the evidence of the complainant “credible or reliable” and rendered her decision not guilty.

The five players, who had been suspended by the NHL, were reinstated to return Dec. 1.

Dube signed a professional tryout Dec. 10 with the American Hockey League’s Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds, the Blues’ affiliate. He played 46 games with the Thunderbirds, finishing the season with 20 goals and 37 points. On July 1, he signed a one-year, one-way, $850,000 free-agent contract with the Blues.

“Dillon came into our organization last year, and we’ve gotten to know him a lot better throughout that time frame,” Blues general manager Alexander Steen said in July. “We’re well aware of (the trial). The thing that’s impressed us with Dillon is his openness toward that. He approaches it with sincerity and humility. His teammates and coaching staff have shared what their experiences with him were. He wants to be a positive influence.

“When you get to know him more and more, his interactions with his teammates, he wants to bring out the best version of himself on a daily basis, and he actively tries to bring out the best version of his teammates as well. Since I got here in St. Louis, the organization has always been a second-chance organization, and this is Dillon’s opportunity, and we feel confident in giving it to him — to fight for a spot on our team (in 2026-27).”

Dube acknowledged he was “a bit nervous” when he joined the Blues’ minor-league affiliate last December but said he felt welcome right away.

“I said I wanted to be a good teammate and bring my best every day for them,” he said. “I went through some growing throughout it, like I said, going to therapy for three years. Now, it’s turning into the opportunity that I have here in St. Louis, bringing my best and being ready for what I can do as a good teammate here. I’m just excited for the future here and moving forward.”

Asked how he has changed since 2018, Dube added: “I think I’ve matured a lot as a person. I’m married now. I’m really close to my family with everything we’ve gone (through), especially with my dad (passing away last year), too. I’ve matured as a person and become really close with my family throughout it.”

Dube, who will be on the bubble of making the Blues’ roster for the 2026-27 season, said he can’t focus on fan reaction or whether he deserves another opportunity.

“I respect everybody’s opinion on this, for sure,” he said. “But for me, I’m just trying to bring my best and control what I can from here on out. I want to dive into the St. Louis culture. I learned a lot of it last year in Springfield, but I want to dive into it even more this year and just really be a part of this community here. I’m really looking forward and trying to bring that every day.”