In a shocking turn of events, a former National Hockey League player has been charged with sexual assault in Canada. This news has sent shockwaves through the hockey community, causing turmoil within the sport’s Canadian governing body and sparking anger across the country.
According to a report in The Globe and Mail, four more players are expected to turn themselves in to the police service in London, Ontario in the coming days. The accused, including Alex Formenton, are facing charges related to an incident that occurred in 2018.
Dan Brown, Mr. Formenton’s lawyer, stated, “Alex will vigorously defend his innocence and asks that people not rush to judgment without hearing all of the evidence.” The specifics of the accusations against Mr. Formenton were not disclosed in the statement.
After playing with the Ottawa Senators in the NHL, Mr. Formenton, 24, moved to Switzerland to play for a professional team, Hockey Club Ambri-Piotta. However, he has now been granted an indefinite leave to return to Canada for personal reasons.
The allegations of sexual assault date back to 2018 when the players were members of Canada’s national junior team. This incident has caused a massive commotion within the hockey community, leading to major changes within Hockey Canada, the national governing body of the sport.
The accused players, who were part of the national junior team that won the 2018 world junior championships, have come under intense public scrutiny. The woman who reported the assault stated that it occurred after a Hockey Canada fund-raising gala in London, Ontario.
The situation escalated in 2022 when it was revealed that Hockey Canada had paid a settlement of 3.5 million Canadian dollars to the woman to resolve the lawsuit. This revelation reignited public outrage and prompted further investigation into the matter.
The public outcry intensified after it was disclosed that the settlement funds came from a pool generated by hockey registration fees, including those for children. Hockey Canada admitted to using this fund to settle previous sexual assault claims dating back to 1989.
The investigations into this case are ongoing, with the London police reopening their investigation in light of the lawsuit settlement. Both Hockey Canada and the NHL have conducted their own investigations but have yet to release their findings.
In response to these developments, Pascale St-Onge, the former federal minister of sport, expressed her dismay and emphasized the importance of justice for the victims. She stated, “Canadians were disgusted and shocked to see this story and others like it. It’s gratifying to see this process move forward.”
As this story continues to unfold, the hockey community and the public eagerly await the resolution of this disturbing case.
