Photo credit: Sportsnet
The 2018 World Juniors scandal has dominated headlines, and now one player seems to have hit a low point.
While the investigation into the five players continues, their paths have diverged. Dillon Dube and Michael McLeod are reportedly heading to Europe to play in the KHL, while Carter Hart and Cal Foote are training for a potential return to hockey. However, Alex Formenton has taken a different route, stepping away from the sport altogether. According to reports, Formenton has taken up a blue-collar job, a significant shift from his once-promising hockey career.
Formenton lives in Barrie, Ont., and has "moved on from a hockey career," the court documents state, but is working full time in construction and getting "ongoing training in the operation of heavy equipment as well as the administration aspects of his new trade."
Must read on CanucksDaily
Criticism has mounted as some believe the system has been too lenient, allowing the players to continue their careers. However, Formenton's move suggests he may have accepted his fate and is distancing himself from hockey. Before the charges became official, Formenton played in Switzerland, while the others were in the NHL, indicating that this career shift may not have been entirely voluntary.
As the legal process unfolds, a 2025 trial is set, with all players excused from pretrial arguments for what has been classified as "compelling economic reasons." The hockey world now waits for the outcome, which could permanently affect their futures in the sport.
