Alex Formenton signs contract in Switzerland, remains ineligible for NHL

A former NHLer is returning to the game overseas.

On Saturday, HC Ambri-Piotta of the National League in Switzerland announced that the team has signed forward Alex Formenton to a contract valid through December of the 2025-26 season, with the option to extend the deal through the remainder of the campaign.

Formenton returns to the team that he left in January 2024 amid sexual assault allegations against him and four of his teammates on the 2018 Canadian National Junior Team, including Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote,  Michael McLeod and Carter Hart. Formenton was the first player to turn themselves in to the London Police to face one count of sexual assault.

While the five players were acquitted of all charges in the case, they are still deemed ineligible to play in the NHL pending a review by the league.

Formenton hasn’t played in a game since 2024, having missed the entire 2024-25 campaign while the investigation and court proceedings were ongoing. He played parts of two seasons with Ambri-Piotta, having posted 10 goals and six assists for 16 points in 24 games during the 2023-24 season.

In 46 regular-season games with the club, the Barrie, Ont. native has notched 20 goals and nine assists for 29 points. He played for the team during the 2022 and 2023 Spengler Cups. Along with helping Ambri-Piotta win the tournament in 2022, leading the tournament with six points, Formenton was named to the Spengler Cup All-Star team in 2023.

Prior to heading overseas, Formenton spent parts of five seasons with the Ottawa Senators, splitting time between the Sens and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Belleville Senators. He played the entire 2021-22 campaign in Otta, scoring 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points. In 109 NHL contests, he posted 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points.