Ambri releases Formenton: five hockey professionals summoned by the Canadian police

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“Five players who were part of the Canadian U20 national team in 2018 must report to the authorities in London (Ontario) within an indefinite period.

This report was published on Wednesday afternoon by the Canadian newspaper “The Globe and Mail”. A short time later, HC Ambri-Piotta informed the public that Canadian Alex Formenton (24) would be released indefinitely for “personal reasons” and return to Canada.

The five players have not been charged or convicted; the presumption of innocence applies.

Alleged abuse scandal

The background: In 2018, as a member of the Canadian U20 national team, Formenton was part of an investigation into an alleged abuse scandal. An investigation that did not lead to any charges at the time. It was about a case in which a young woman was allegedly abused by several ice hockey players and which later continued to haunt the judiciary. The Canadian association initially swept the matter under the rug by paying millions from secret treasuries.

However, the culture of silence caught up with the officials afterwards: when it became known that Hockey Canada had paid more than six million francs in hush money to possible victims of abuse since 1989, sponsors, the public and politicians put enormous pressure on them. The entire management team was then replaced and a culture change was promised. But the people, deeply rooted in ice hockey, demanded more from their most important sporting association: education. The NHL is also under pressure: the best league in the world has promised action if the investigation by Ontario authorities leads to charges against NHL players.

The police submitted an application a year ago

Authorities in London, Ontario, filed an application with the Ontario Court of Justice in the spring of 2023 alleging reasonable suspicion that five members of the 2018 U20 national team had sexually assaulted a young woman. The police station only told the portal “Sportsnet” on Wednesday that it currently had no further information, but announced a press conference for Monday, February 5.

After signing Formenton, Ambri was exposed to accusations revolving around the moral responsibility of a club, despite the fact that it was legally harmless. Ambri’s sports director Paolo Duca said this to Blick in 2022: “We knew that this investigation took place four years ago. No charges were filed at the time and no verdict was handed down. Now the investigation has been reopened after the unrest at the Canadian association. We spoke to the player before the transfer, we spoke to his representative and his lawyer. Based on the information we have, there is no reason to doubt his innocence. If the facts change, we have the opportunity to reassess the contractual situation.”

Source : Blick