Alex Formenton’s name has been at the centre of one of the most scrutinized cases in Canadian hockey in recent years, tied to sexual assault allegations dating back to 2018.
After years of investigation, court proceedings and public speculation, Formenton was acquitted of sexual assault charges this July. While the ruling cleared him of criminal wrongdoing, it did not close the chapter on how the NHL and the world of hockey would respond.
The allegations arose from a June 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario, after which a woman came forward alleging that she had been sexually assaulted in a hotel room by multiple members of Canada’s junior team. In 2022, Hockey Canada received heavy criticism for its handling of the matter, particularly after it was revealed that settlement funds had been used in past misconduct cases. Public and governmental pressure led the London Police to reopen the investigation, and in January 2024 Formenton, along with Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod, were formally charged with sexual assault.
The trial began in the Ontario Superior Court in April of this year before Justice Maria Carroccia. From the outset, the proceedings were marred by disruption. A mistrial was declared early over procedural issues, and later, a jury was dismissed after concerns were raised that defence lawyers had mocked jurors. Although those lawyers denied the allegations, the judge ruled that the situation compromised the trial’s integrity, and she proceeded without a jury, reviewing the evidence herself. On July 24, Justice Carroccia announced her findings: all five players were acquitted. In her reasoning, she stated that the complainant’s testimony was neither credible nor reliable and the Crown had failed to prove a lack of consent beyond a reasonable doubt.
Even with the acquittal, the NHL maintained its own parallel investigation, which began in 2022. The league reviewed interviews, documents, text messages and video evidence before determining that, while the players had not been found guilty in court, their conduct fell short of the standards expected of NHL athletes. As a result, commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Formenton and the other four players would be barred from NHL play until Dec. 1. The league’s disciplinary plan set out that the players would be permitted to sign contracts beginning Oct. 15 and to skate with teams for conditioning Nov. 15 but would not be eligible to appear in games until December. Bettman emphasized that the behaviour examined was “unacceptable and inconsistent with the values of the league,” even though it did not meet the threshold for criminal conviction.
Formenton’s professional situation remains complex. His NHL rights are still held by the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him in 2017, though he has not played for them since 2022. In the wake of his acquittal and suspension, he signed a short-term deal with Swiss club HC Ambri-Piotta, keeping him active in professional hockey until his NHL eligibility is restored in December.
For Formenton, the acquittal removed the possibility of criminal liability, but his path forward will be watched closely. Returning to the NHL will require not just athletic performance, but a rebuilding of trust with fans, teammates and the hockey community. Whether Ottawa opts to reintegrate him or move his rights elsewhere, his re-entry into the league in December is likely to be accompanied by ongoing questions about how the sport balanced justice, accountability and the careers of its athletes.