Player from Team Canada World Junior Scandal Sues Agent and Agency for $20.5M

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Tom Banks
November 1, 2024 (1:37 PM)

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The Team Canada scandal involving the World Junior's team from 2018 is far from over, but now Alex Formenton has reportedly sued his agency.

Alex Formenton was one of five players formerly of Team Canada's World Juniors squad that was charged by police in London Ontario, with all five awaiting trial for their actions. Now, the former Ottawa Senators forward has started a lawsuit against his former agency, Newport Sports, demanding $20 million for what he believes was «bad faith and high-handed conduct.».

According to Formenton's lawsuit, the agency, which is one of the biggest in the league representing the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Connor Bedard and Brad Marchand, did not meet the required standard of care and counsel expected of a professional agent.

«As his agent, Wade and Newport Sports owed Alex a duty of care,» Formenton's lawsuit reads. «At all material times, they were negligent in exercising their duties as agent to Alex and did not meet the required standard of care expected of a professional agent. Alex pleads that the services and counsel provided by Wade and Newport Sports were done negligently, carelessly and unskillfully»

The main issue from Formenton's side appears to be a contract negotiation with the Senators back in 2022, where his agent Wade Arnott failed to properly advise him on how to move forward, which ultimately resulted in his departure from the NHL.

«For the remainder of July to December 2022, Wade continued to represent and hold out to Alex that he would yet be offered a new contract by the Ottawa Senators,» the lawsuit reads. «Wade advised that even without an accepted offer or extended qualifying offer his dealings with the Ottawa Senators on behalf of Alex was �business as usual' and that Alex should rely on Wade and Newport Sports to secure a favourable offer.

«Wade's advice was wrong. The Ottawa Senators did not propose or agree to a new contract with Alex prior to December 1, 2022, and accordingly, Alex was ineligible to play in the NHL for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.»

Formenton would then depart North America for Switzerland, and while he would advise his agents to put a clause in his deal that he could return to the NHL at any time if offered a new deal, the lawsuit states that his agency did not advise him of the impact this move would have.

«During the negotiations of the Ambri-Piotta contract, Wade asked for a contract clause that would allow Alex to return to play with the NHL, should Newport Sports and Alex be able to negotiate a new NHL contract,» the lawsuit reads. «At no time during the contract negotiations with Ambri-Piotta did Wade advise Alex of the consequences or possible repercussions of transferring to a European team and the impact this may have on a continued career in the NHL.»

While the other four players involved in the lawsuit have all continued their hockey careers, Formenton has retired from the game to take a normal job, and with the other lawsuit pending, there's plenty for him to be worried about at this stage.