Alex Formenton

Early Life and Family Background

Alex Formenton was born on September 13, 1999, in Barrie, Ontario, and spent his early years in the York region. His childhood was shaped by his family's circumstances, as his mother cared for two adult brothers who had autism and Down syndrome. Formenton spent considerable time with his brothers while his mother attended to them, an experience he later cited as formative. While playing major junior hockey for the London Knights, he lived with a billet family that also included a girl with Down syndrome. These repeated exposures led Formenton to express a specific desire to seek out a cause or charity focused on helping people with Down syndrome or autism, highlighting the personal impact of these early life experiences.

Amateur Career with the London Knights

Alex Formenton began his major junior hockey path when the London Knights selected him in the eleventh round, 216th overall, of the 2015 OHL Priority Draft. He made his debut with the Knights in the 2016-17 season, appearing in 65 games and recording 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points. His performance that season earned him an invitation to the 2017 CHL Top Prospects Game. The Knights qualified for the playoffs but Formenton did not record a point in 14 postseason games. He returned for the 2017-18 season and significantly improved his offensive output, scoring 29 goals and 48 points in just 48 games. In the playoffs, he tallied five goals and seven points in a four-game first-round series loss. Formenton began the 2018-19 season with Ottawa but was returned to London in November, where he scored 34 points in 31 games and added 18 points in 11 playoff games, helping the Knights reach the conference semifinals.

Professional Ascent with the Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators drafted Alex Formenton 47th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. After a strong development camp, he made the NHL roster out of training camp and debuted on October 7, 2017, setting a franchise record as the youngest player for the modern Senators. He was returned to junior after that single game. The following season, he again made the team and scored his first NHL goal on October 30, 2018, against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta. After nine games, he was sent back to London. For the 2019-20 season, the Senators assigned him to the AHL's Belleville Senators for further development. There, he flourished, scoring 27 goals and 53 points in 61 games before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His performance earned him a spot in the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic and a place on the AHL All-Rookie Team. In the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, he split time between Ottawa and Belleville, though his play was affected by an illness. He secured a full-time NHL role in 2021-22, playing 79 games, scoring 18 goals and 32 points, and establishing himself as a dependable penalty killer.

Contract Stalemate and Move to Swiss Hockey

Following the 2021-22 season, Alex Formenton became a restricted free agent. The Ottawa Senators made him a qualifying offer, which he rejected, and the two sides could not agree on a new contract. This stalemate lasted through the entire 2022-23 NHL season, a situation described in media reports as ultra-rare for a player of his prospect status. Senators General Manager Pierre Dorion did not publicly confirm the reason for the impasse, but media reports consistently linked it to the ongoing police investigation into the 2018 Hockey Canada allegation. Unable to find a trade partner for Formenton's rights, the Senators retained him on their reserve list while he remained unsigned. On December 14, 2022, Formenton belatedly signed with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League. The Swiss club issued a statement indicating its contract with Formenton would be re-evaluated should the investigation reveal any wrongdoing by the player.

Success in Switzerland and Spengler Cup Victory

Alex Formenton's tenure with HC Ambrì-Piotta was marked by immediate on-ice success. Shortly after joining the club, he competed in the 2022 Spengler Cup tournament. Formenton led the entire tournament in scoring with six points in four games, a crucial contribution that helped Ambrì-Piotta defeat HC Sparta Prague 3-2 in the final. This victory was historic, making Ambrì-Piotta only the fourth Swiss team to win the Spengler Cup in its 99-year history. During the 2022-23 National League season, Formenton recorded ten goals and 13 points in 22 games. He signed a subsequent two-month contract for the start of the 2023-24 season, adding ten goals and 16 points in 24 games. In the 2023 Spengler Cup, his team was eliminated in the opening round, but Formenton was named to the tournament all-star team. After pausing his career for his trial in Canada, he re-signed with Ambrì-Piotta in September 2025, playing 42 games and scoring 13 goals and 23 points in the 2025-26 season.

The 2018 Investigation, Trial, and Acquittal

In January 2024, HC Ambrì-Piotta granted Alex Formenton a leave of absence, and he returned to Canada. On January 28, he surrendered to London, Ontario police, and on February 5, 2024, he was formally charged with one count of sexual assault. The charge stemmed from an alleged incident involving a woman after a Hockey Canada gala in London in June 2018. Formenton pleaded not guilty and was represented by lawyers from Daniel Brown Law LLP. His trial, alongside four other players from the 2018 Canadian world junior team, was held from April 22 to June 13, 2025, overseen by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia. During the trial, court documents revealed Formenton had moved on from his hockey career and was working in construction. On July 24, 2025, Justice Carroccia acquitted all five defendants. In a detailed 94-page decision, she found the evidence of the complainant was not credible or reliable and stated the Crown had not met its burden of proof on any count. The judge explicitly addressed public discourse, writing that the slogan "Believe the victim" has no place in a criminal trial as it imposes a presumption of guilt on the accused.

Return to the NHL and Edmonton Oilers Backlash

Following his acquittal, the NHL reinstated Alex Formenton's eligibility. On September 9, 2026, the Edmonton Oilers signed him to a one-year contract worth $850,000. The announcement triggered an intense and immediate public backlash. During a pre-season game, protesters gathered across from Rogers Place chanting "Formie's got to go, no means no." An online petition demanding the Oilers end his affiliation with the team garnered nearly 70,000 signatures within ten days. Prominent Oilers fan Mary Loewen, known as "Mama Stanley," stated she could not support the team while Formenton was on the roster, citing her own experience as a sexual assault survivor. On social media and in comments on the team's announcement, many fans expressed feelings of embarrassment, disgust, and disappointment. Oilers captain Connor McDavid voiced his support for the signing, while General Manager Stan Bowman acknowledged the reaction but stated the team had done its due diligence and viewed Formenton as an asset. Formenton made his Oilers debut on September 29, 2026, registering an assist in a loss to Vancouver, and scored his first goal for the team on October 10 in a win over San Jose.

Post-Acquittal Reinstatement and Code of Conduct Ruling

After the criminal trial concluded, separate governing bodies made rulings on the players' eligibility. The NHL reinstated all five acquitted players, clearing the way for them to sign contracts. However, Hockey Canada conducted its own review through an independent appeal board. In August 2026, it was reported that the board had ruled all five players breached the Hockey Canada code of conduct stemming from the alleged 2018 incident. The board recommended continued suspensions from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs for four of the players. Alex Formenton was the sole player named eligible for immediate reinstatement to Hockey Canada programs. This distinction meant that while all were legally acquitted, Hockey Canada's internal disciplinary process resulted in different outcomes for the players involved, with Formenton being the only one cleared to participate in its activities immediately.

Contract Dispute with Former Player Agency

In a separate legal matter, Alex Formenton initiated a lawsuit against his former player agency in March 2025. He sought $20 million in damages, claiming the agency was negligent and breached its contract and fiduciary duty. Formenton's claim centred on the qualifying offer he received from the Ottawa Senators in the summer of 2022 at the end of his entry-level contract. He argued that the agency failed to properly advise him that by rejecting the offer, he was not guaranteed the ability to negotiate a new contract the following season. Formenton further claimed that had he accepted the initial qualifying offer, the contract could have been extended through any potential career disruption, such as the criminal trial. The agency refuted all these claims. The case went before an arbitrator appointed by the National Hockey League Players' Association, who dismissed it, finding the dispute was filed too late under the union's regulations. An Ontario Superior Court judge later upheld the arbitrator's decision, ending Formenton's attempt to secure financial compensation for his lost NHL seasons.

Questions about Alex Formenton

What was Alex Formenton charged with and what was the outcome?

Alex Formenton was charged with one count of sexual assault in February 2024, related to an alleged incident in June 2018 involving a woman after a Hockey Canada gala. He pleaded not guilty. After an eight-week trial in 2025, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia acquitted Formenton and four other players. The judge ruled the evidence of the complainant was not credible or reliable and that the Crown had not met its burden of proof.

Why did the Edmonton Oilers signing of Alex Formenton cause controversy?

The signing caused controversy because Formenton was one of five players charged in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case, and his association with the scandal remained despite his legal acquittal in 2025. His signing with the Oilers in September 2026 triggered public backlash, including protests outside games and a petition demanding his removal from the team. Many fans and community members felt the decision showed disregard for survivors of sexual violence. Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman stated the team had done its due diligence before the signing.

Where did Alex Formenton play hockey after leaving the Ottawa Senators?

After his contract with Ottawa expired in 2022, Alex Formenton played for HC Ambrì-Piotta in the Swiss National League. He joined the team in December 2022 and played parts of three seasons there. His most notable achievement in Switzerland was winning the 2022 Spengler Cup, where he was the tournament's leading scorer. He continued playing for Ambrì-Piotta through the 2025-26 season before returning to the NHL with Edmonton.

What international hockey achievement does Alex Formenton have?

Alex Formenton won a gold medal with Canada's national junior team at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was selected for the team alongside his London Knights teammate Robert Thomas. This achievement occurred before the off-ice allegations from that team's activities later surfaced. Following the 2025 acquittals, an independent appeal board ruled all five players breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct, but only Formenton was named eligible for immediate reinstatement to Hockey Canada programs.

What was Alex Formenton's early NHL career like with Ottawa?

Formenton made the Senators' roster out of training camp as an 18-year-old in 2017, becoming the youngest player in modern franchise history. He played one game before being returned to junior. He made the team again in 2018-19, scoring his first NHL goal. He spent significant development time with the AHL's Belleville Senators, where he was an all-rookie team selection in 2020. He became an NHL regular in 2021-22, playing 79 games and scoring 18 goals as a penalty-killing specialist before his contract expired.

How did the Ottawa Senators handle Formenton's contract situation?

The Ottawa Senators extended a qualifying offer to Formenton as a restricted free agent after the 2021-22 season, which he rejected. The two sides could not agree on a new contract, and he went unsigned for the entire 2022-23 NHL season. Media reports and the team's general manager, Pierre Dorion, indicated the ongoing investigation into the 2018 alleged sexual assault was a central factor in the stalemate. The Senators were unable to trade his rights, and he eventually signed in Switzerland, effectively ending his tenure with the franchise.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.