Bowman Admits Controversial Formenton Signing “Wasn’t Going to Be Universally Accepted”

Stan Bowman makes reference to his own second chance when he was arguably a bystander to the Kyle Beach sexual assault scandal with the Chicaco Blackhawks. But Bowman's second chance doesn't line up with Alex Formenton who was himself accused of sexual assault.

In Formenton's case Hockey Canada settled with the Complainant, E.M., for an undisclosed and confidential amount. Only after word of this settlement got out did the local police decide to lay charges against the Hockey Players involved. Hockey Canada's settlement used funds from the registration fees of all players, which raised all kinds of issues on its own.

As we all know, Criminal trials have a higher standard of proof, and those of us who followed the news or even followed the trial, don't need the play by play of that. There were two jury trials attempted, and both sets of juries were dismissed. Both instances arguably involved Formenton's lawyers interacting or not interacting with jurors, and these lawyers denied doing anything wrong and were not sanctioned. Ultimately, in the face of the higher standard of proof, all the pretty Hockey boys ended up going um...ah...I don't know, I can't recall, I'm not sure, and walked away from the entire mess.

For the public, the relative wealth of the players, and arguably the Hockey culture for young boys, were put up on trial and on display. While the Criminal Courts performed as anyone could expect, Hockey fans ended up walking away uneasy, with nothing more than a song and a dance from Hockey Canada about how things would be better.

Now, even if some may feel that the Criminal trial was completed and the issue of Sexual Assault under the Criminal Code of Canada was settled, the public now sees Alex Formenton back on with the Edmonton Oilers.

We the public still have unfinished business. Nothing was settled with the culture. Bowman arguably could be rubbing the old boys club culture, and their relative Hockey wealth, in our collective faces. Those Hockey Canada investigations? If Formenton's trial was any indication, they're sealed away for their own records and purposes. They're not meant for any police investigation. In fact, they may be done to put up a road block in front of any criminal level investigation to frustrate future court proceedings even if they say otherwise.

What regular civilian would enjoy this level of organizational protection?

Worse, now it's at the expense of what could be the sunset for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's careers. A complete distraction. No one's talking about getting to the playoffs. Bowman put the whole Oilers organization right in the middle of this mess that actually started in Ontario.