Ex-NHL player Alex Formenton charged by London police: lawyer

Professional hockey player Alex Formenton’s lawyer has confirmed that the former member of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team has been charged by police in London, Ont.

“The London Police have charged several players, including Alex Formenton, in connection with an accusation made in 2018,” lead counsel Daniel Brown said in an email to the Canadian Press.

“Alex will vigorously defend his innocence and asks that people not rush to judgment without hearing all of the evidence.”

Video footage shows the former Ottawa Senators player entering a London police station on Sunday morning along with his legal team.

Last week, five players from the 2018 team announced that they will be taking leaves of absence from their professional hockey clubs. London police have yet to name the accused.

READ MORE: 2003 junior hockey team sex assault investigation ongoing: Halifax police

In unsealed court documents, the alleged victim says she was having consensual sex with one member of the team in a hotel room in 2018, when she says seven more players entered the room and assaulted her.

Police launched a second investigation in 2022 after Hockey Canada quietly settled a $3.5-million lawsuit with the victim back in 2019.

The scandal rocked the hockey world and the NHL opened its own investigation and pledged to make those findings public.

Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General said that as of last Wednesday no charges relating to the 2018 incident have been filed in court.

Formerton is believed to be the only player to have surrendered at this time.

Police in London say they anticipate holding a press conference on Feb. 5 to discuss further details regarding this investigation, noting the significant public interest the case has drawn.

This report was created with files from The Canadian Press 

READ MORE: 5 players from 2018 Canada world junior team take leave of absence from their clubs