Former Ottawa Senators winger Alex Formenton has resumed playing hockey.
Found not guilty of sexual assault along with four other members of the 2018 Canadian world junior team in July in London, Ont., Formenton re-signed with HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss league on Saturday.
The club said on its website that Formenton had signed a contract running until the Christmas break in December, and he has the option to remain there until the end of the season.
Formenton was playing for Ambri-Piotta when he took a leave of absence during the 2023-24 season to return to North America to face the criminal charges.
“Putting his personal issues in Canada behind him, Alex has decided to return to hockey and has expressed his desire to relaunch his professional career wearing the No. 10 jersey for Ambrì,” the club’s statement said. “The club is delighted with his return and looks forward to welcoming him back to the Gottardo Arena ice.”
The Senators still hold Formenton’s National Hockey League rights because they made him a qualifying offer when he became a free agent after the 2021-22 campaign.
He chose not to sign the qualifying offer before it expired, and then the Senators tried to trade his rights, but there was no interest because of the investigation in London.
At this point, Formenton remains ineligible to play in the NHL because none of the players has been cleared to return by commissioner Gary Bettman.
“The allegations made in this case, even if not determined to have been criminal, were very disturbing, and the behaviour at issue was unacceptable,” the league said in a statement after the trial.
“We will be reviewing and considering the judge’s findings. While we conduct that analysis and determine next steps, the players charged in this case are ineligible to play in the league.”
Formenton was a second-round draft pick by the Senators in 2017. In 109 regular-season games overall, he posted 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points.
By signing with Ambri-Piotta, he’s clearly trying to show the Senators and other NHL teams that he can still play.
Alex Formenton was a second-round draft pick by the Senators in 2017. In 109 regular-season games overall, he posted 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points. He did not re-sign after becoming a free agent in 2022.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association is trying to get the five players clearance to return to the league.
“Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were acquitted of all charges by Justice Carroccia of the Ontario Superior Court,” an NHLPA statement read. “After missing more than a full season of their respective NHL careers, they should now have the opportunity to return to work. The NHL’s declaration that the Players are ‘ineligible’ to play pending its further analysis of the Court’s findings is inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA.
“We are addressing this dispute with the League and will have no further comment at this time.”
bgarrioch@postmedia.com
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