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Alex Formenton

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Alex Formenton
Formenton with the Belleville Senators in 2020
Born (1999-09-13) September 13, 1999 (age 25)
King, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Ottawa Senators
HC Ambrì-Piotta
NHL draft 47th overall, 2017
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2017–2024

Alex Formenton (born September 13, 1999) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) and HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League. He won a gold medal with Canada's junior team at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was selected by the Senators in the second round of the 2017 NHL entry draft. He also won the 2022 Spengler Cup with HC Ambrì-Piotta. Formenton was reported to have moved on from professional hockey in 2025.

Early life

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Formenton was born in Barrie, Ontario, on September 13, 1999. Formenton's early years were spent in the York area, and for the 2015–16 season he played for the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.[1] In his childhood, Formenton's mother cared for two adult brothers with autism and Down syndrome. Formenton spent time with them while his mother cared for them. While playing for the London Knights, he billeted with a family that included a girl with Down syndrome. He has attributed these experiences to his desire to "seek out some sort of cause or charity that helps people who have Down syndrome or autism".[2]

Playing career

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Amateur

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Formenton was selected by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the eleventh round, 216th overall, of the 2015 priority draft.[3][4] Formenton made his major junior hockey debut with the Knights in the 2016–17 season and recorded 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points in 65 games.[5] Formenton was selected to play in the 2017 CHL Top Prospects Game.[6] The Knights qualified for the 2017 OHL playoffs and advanced to the conference semifinals, losing to the Erie Otters.[7] Formenton went scoreless in 14 playoff games.[5] He returned to London for the 2017–18 season and appeared in 48 games, scoring 29 goals and 48 points.[5] The Knights made the playoffs again, but were knocked out in the first round by the Owen Sound Attack.[8] Formenton tallied five goals and seven points in the four game series.[5]

He returned to London in late November for the 2018–19 season.[9] He recorded 13 goals and 34 points in 31 games.[5] The Knights made the 2019 OHL playoffs and advanced to the conference semifinals only to be eliminated by the Guelph Storm.[10] Formenton added four goals and 18 points in 11 playoff games.[5]

Professional

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Ottawa Senators

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The Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Formenton in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2017 NHL entry draft.[11] Formenton was invited to the Senators' main training camp after attending its development camp in mid 2017.[12] At the end of training camp, Ottawa retained him on its NHL roster to open the 2017–18 season and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract.[13] Formenton made his NHL debut on October 7, 2017, becoming the youngest player to play a game for the contemporary Senators franchise.[14] He was a healthy scratch after that game, and on October 15, he was returned by the Senators to continue his development with the London Knights.[15] After the OHL season ended in 2018, Formenton was reassigned to the Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators.[16] Formenton made two appearances with Belleville.[5]

Formenton earned a spot on the Senators' roster for the 2018–19 season. On October 30, Formenton scored his first career NHL goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta, the lone Senators goal in a 5–1 loss. He was returned to London in November after appearing in nine games, scoring the one goal.[5][9] After making the Senators out of training camp for two straight seasons, but failing to stick with the team for the 2019–20 season, Formenton was assigned to Belleville to help round out his game. Before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Formenton scored 27 goals and 53 points in 61 games with Belleville.[11] Formenton was selected to represent Belleville at the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.[17] He was named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team alongside teammate Josh Norris.[18] In the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, Formenton split time between Ottawa and Belleville, recording four goals and six points in 20 games in the NHL and four goals in 13 games in the AHL.[5] Throughout the season, Formenton struggled with the effects of an illness that affected his play.[19]

Formenton played with Ottawa for the 2021–22 season, establishing himself as a solid penalty killer.[20] In November, Formenton contracted COVID-19 and was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.[21] He finished the season with 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games.[22]

HC Ambrì-Piotta

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After his contract expired following the 2021–22 season, the Senators and Formenton could not agree to terms on a new contract. Remaining unsigned and later becoming ineligible to appear in the 2022–23 NHL season, Formenton belatedly signed with Swiss club HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League (NL) on December 14, 2022.[22] HC Ambrì-Piotta later issued a statement saying that their contract with Formenton would be re-evaluated at a later date should an investigation of an alleged 2018 sexual assault by members of the Canadian world junior team, of which Formenton was a member, reveal wrongdoing by the player. Senators General Manager Pierre Dorion did not clarify whether Formenton's contract status with the organization was related to the investigation,[23] though some in the media stated that the investigation into Formenton's involvement was the reason for the contract stalemate.[24] Canadian newspaper The London Free Press noted that it is "ultra-rare" for an NHL team to allow a top prospect like Formenton to be unsigned for an entire season.[25] Heading into the 2023 NHL entry draft it was anticipated that the Senators would trade Formenton's rights to free up a spot on the club's reserve list, but Dorion was unable to find a trading partner.[26]

In the 2022 Spengler Cup tournament, Formenton scored a tournament-high six points in four games, helping propel HC Ambrì-Piotta to a historic Spengler Cup victory. In defeating HC Sparta Prague by a 3–2 score, Ambrì became only the fourth Swiss team to win the cup in its 99-year history.[2] In March 2025, it was revealed that Formenton had begun working in construction in his home town.[27] In the 2022–23 season, Formenton recorded ten goals and 13 points in 22 games.[5] He signed a two-month contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta ahead of the 2023–24 season that ended in December 2023.[28] In 24 games, he added ten goals and 16 points.[5]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Canada

Formenton, along with London Knights teammate Robert Thomas, was selected to represent Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships,[29] where he helped Team Canada win a gold medal.[30] He would later be charged with sexual assault for an incident that occurred at a team event in June 2018.[31]

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On January 24, 2024, Ambrì-Piotta announced that it had granted Formenton a leave of absence for personal reasons and that he would return to Canada.[32][33] On January 28, Formenton surrendered himself to London police as he was charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault in 2018.[31] On February 5, the London Police Service announced that Formenton had been charged with one count of sexual assault.[34] According to August 2024 court documents released the following month, Formenton had "moved on from a hockey career" and was working in construction.[35] The trial began in April 2025. He plead not guilty.[36][37]

In March 2025, Formenton's legal representation requested that an arbitrator's decision to dismiss claims of negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty by his former agency be set aside. In 2022, at the end of his entry-level contract, he was offered a qualifying offer by the Senators, which he rejected. Formenton claims that he was not made aware by the agency that by rejecting the offer, he was not guaranteed the ability to negotiate a new contract the following season and that if he had accepted the initial qualifying offer, any potential career disruption, like the aforementioned trial, would allow for the extension of that contract. The agency refutes the claims. Formenton is seeking $20 million. The case is scheduled to be heard in January 2026 before the Ontario Supreme Court.[27]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014-15 Mississauga Rebels U18 AAA GTHL U18 65 27 28 55 92 - - - - -
2015–16 Aurora Tigers OJHL 54 13 13 26 66 5 2 0 2 0
2016–17 London Knights OHL 65 16 18 34 50 14 0 0 0 6
2017–18 Ottawa Senators NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 London Knights OHL 48 29 19 48 55 4 5 2 7 6
2017–18 Belleville Senators AHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Ottawa Senators NHL 9 1 0 1 6 — — — — —
2018–19 London Knights OHL 31 13 21 34 50 11 4 14 18 14
2019–20 Belleville Senators AHL 61 27 26 53 65 — — — — —
2020–21 Belleville Senators AHL 13 4 0 4 22 — — — — —
2020–21 Ottawa Senators NHL 20 4 2 6 6 — — — — —
2021–22 Ottawa Senators NHL 79 18 14 32 59 — — — — —
2022–23 HC Ambrì-Piotta NL 22 10 3 13 74 — — — — —
2023–24 HC Ambrì-Piotta NL 24 10 6 16 24 — — — — —
NHL totals 109 23 16 39 71 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 2 4 8
Junior totals 7 2 2 4 8

Awards and honours

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Awards Year
CHL Top Prospects Game 2017 [6]
AHL All-Star Game 2020 [17]
AHL All-Rookie Team 2020 [18]
Spengler Cup winner 2022 [2]

References

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  1. ^ "Barrie man among 2018 World Junior Hockey Team players named in sexual assault investigation". CTV News. January 29, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Exclusive Interview with Ambri Player Alex Formenton". Suisse Puck News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Knights Introduce 2015 OHL Priority Selections". London Knights. April 14, 2015. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018.
  4. ^ Stubbs, Mike (June 24, 2017). "Alex Formenton of the Knights lands in Ottawa". Global News. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Alex Formenton". hockeydb.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Robert Thomas and Alex Formenton Named to 2017 Sherwin-Wiliams Top Prospects Game". London Knights. December 14, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2025 – via CHL.ca.
  7. ^ Fernandes, Victor (April 18, 2017). "Otters move on". Go Erie. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Pyette, Ryan (March 30, 2018). "Knights swept from playoffs by another one-goal loss". The London Free Press. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Brennan, Dan (November 2, 2018). "Senators rookie Formenton returned to OHL's London Knights after playing his ninth game". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  10. ^ Pyette, Ryan (April 17, 2019). "Guelph Storm complete epic comeback with Game 7 win over London Knights". The London Free Press. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Garrioch, Bruce (May 14, 2020). "Prospect Watch: Alex Formenton has made strides on the road to the NHL". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Garrioch, Bruce (June 26, 2017). "Development camp lets Senators see prospects up close". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  13. ^ Stubbs, Mike (October 3, 2017). "Alex Formenton is making something rare, very real". Global News. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  14. ^ Warren, Ken (October 6, 2017). "Senators' Alex Formenton sprints into NHL with assists from ex-Leafs". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Sens Communications [@Media_Sens] (October 15, 2017). "The #Sens have reassigned Thomas Chabot to @BellevilleSens and have returned Alex Formenton to London (OHL)" (Tweet). Retrieved February 23, 2023 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Alex Formenton Reassigned to Belleville Senators". London Knights. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster". American Hockey League. January 26, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Garrioch, Bruce (May 20, 2020). "Senators' top prospects Josh Norris, Drake Batherson and Alex Formenton score AHL honours". Financial Post. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  19. ^ "Senators' Alex Formenton: Struggles with illness in 2020-21". CBS Sports. June 30, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  20. ^ "Senators have promising young core, but head into off-season with work to do". Medicine Hat Chatnewstoday. The Canadian Press. April 30, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  21. ^ Garrioch, Bruce (December 9, 2021). "Snapshots: The effects of COVID-19 behind him, Alex Formenton has his speed back". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Sens RFA Formenton signs one-year deal in Switzerland". TSN. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  23. ^ "Senators RFA Alex Formenton signs one-year contract with Swiss team". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Rumor: Serious allegations against Alex Formenton in Hockey Canada scandal". Hockeyfeed. October 26, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  25. ^ "Player from 2018 world junior team in ultra-rare NHL contract bind". The London Free Press. December 2, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  26. ^ Garrioch, Bruce. "Garrioch: There's a lot of moving parts as Ottawa Senators prepare for draft". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Westhead, Rick (March 26, 2025). "Formenton asks court to set aside arbitrator's decision in fight with Newport Sport". TSN. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  28. ^ Clinton, Naftali (October 12, 2023). "Alex Formenton returns to Ambri-Priotta in Switzerland on two-month contract". Daily Faceoff. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  29. ^ "Canadian Roster Set for 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship". Hockey Canada. December 16, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  30. ^ Courtepatte, Jake (January 10, 2018). "Formenton, Mete golden at World Juniors". King Weekly Sentinel. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  31. ^ a b "Former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton Turns Himself In To London Police". Sportsnet. January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  32. ^ "Former NHLer Alex Formenton Granted Leave by Swiss Team". The Hockey News. January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  33. ^ "Senators' Alex Formenton: Takes leave from Swiss club". CBS Sports. January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  34. ^ "2018 Sexual Assault Investigation". London Police Service. Retrieved February 5, 2024.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ Dubinski, Kate (September 5, 2024). "Here's why a judge let 5 former NHLers skip pretrial arguments in their sexual assault case". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  36. ^ Boynton, Sean (May 15, 2025). "World junior sex assault trial: Here's what has happened in court so far". Global News. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  37. ^ "Trial begins in former world junior hockey players' sexual assault case". Global News. The Canadian Press. April 28, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
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