2018 WJC case: Alex Formenton asks judge for favour ahead of trial

One of five one-time National Hockey League players charged by police in London, Ont., with sexual assault, Alex Formenton has been dealing with another legal issue amid the the 2018 World Junior alleged sexual assault case. Back in November, it was reported that Formenton had filed a $20.5 million lawsuit against player agency Newport Sports Management Inc. and Wade Arnott, his former agent, alleging negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.

However, arbitrator James A. Gross dismissed Formenton’s claims as limitations barred on Jan. 13.

On Wednesday, TSN’s Rick Westhead reported how Formenton has asked a judge to set aside an arbitration decision that dismisses his claims against his former agency. Formenton’s attorney, Jason Squire of the Toronto law firm Lerners LLP, has filed a notice of application making the request on Feb. 10 in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto.

Per Westhead:

“While Newport and Arnott have argued the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s internal arbitration process should be honoured, Formenton has argued that the public courts are the proper venue for the dispute because Newport and Arnott were negotiating on behalf of Formenton after their contract with him had expired – meaning the NHLPA’s regulations are moot.

“An Ontario Superior Court judge is scheduled to hold a hearing on Jan. 22, 2026, to hear arguments on Newport and Arnott’s request to stay the $20.5-million lawsuit Formenton has filed against them.

In January 2024, Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, and Cal Foote were charged with sexual assault. All five players were members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors team and are accused of sexually assaulting a woman referred to in court documents as E.M., following a golf and gala event in London in June 2018

It’s alleged the incident occurred following a Hockey Canada gala in Ontario in June 2018, when the players were honoured for their victory at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Court documents from 2022 revealed London police believed they had reasonable grounds to accuse five players of sexually assaulting a young woman in a hotel room. Since then, respective NHL teams have cut ties with the players.

All five are expected to plead not guilty at trial and have requested to have their cases heard by a judge and jury. An eight-week trial has been set to begin on April 22, 2025.

As for his lawsuit vs. Arnott and Newport, Formenton, who announced how he was done with hockey and now working in constructing, alleges that he suffered income loss for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 NHL seasons, plus future income arising from lost playing time in the NHL, because of Arnott and Newport’s misconduct. He seeks to be awarded $20 million in damages and a further $500,000 in punitive damages because of Newport’s “bad faith and high-handed conduct.”

Formenton was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of he 2017 NHL draft. At the time, he was 17 and signed a Standard Player-Agent Contract (SPAC) with Newport. According to his February notice of application, Formenton signed a SPAC with Arnott and Newport Sports on Aug. 1, 2017, that expired on July 12, 2022.

The winger went on to play mostly with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights and with the Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville, Ont. During the 2021-22 season, he landed a spot with the Sens, scoring 18 goals and was tied for the league lead with five shorthanded goals.

Formenton’s allegations have not been tested in court. Neither Newport Sports founder Don Meehan nor Arnott responded to requests for comment.