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Dozens of protesters gathered outside Rogers Place arena in Edmonton on Saturday, chanting slogans and holding signs as fans arrived for the Edmonton Oilers’ first home game of the season. The demonstration targeted the team’s recent signing of forward Alex Formenton, a move that has sparked widespread criticism since the Oilers announced the deal on September 9.
Protesters Demand Accountability Over Formenton Signing
Formenton is one of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team acquitted last year of sexual assault charges. The charges stemmed from an encounter with a woman in a London, Ontario, hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala in 2018. Prosecutors argued during the trial that the woman did not voluntarily consent to the sexual activity and that the players failed to take reasonable steps to confirm her consent.
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Protesters carried signs reading “Believe Survivors” as fans streamed past them into the arena. Many called on the Oilers to reverse the signing. Demonstrator Jaclyn Prouse said the case exposed a troubling side of hockey culture in Canada. She added that, for the first time in her life, she could not support her hometown team.
“I’ve been an Oilers fan my whole life, I’ve lived in Edmonton my whole life,” Prouse said. “It’s really unfortunate and heartbreaking to see the decisions that are being made by this team and the organization itself. I think it’s important that we have some accountability here today.”
Also present at Saturday’s rally was Mary Loewen, widely known among Oilers fans as “Mama Stanley.” Loewen, who typically attends games dressed in silvery attire styled after the Stanley Cup, has launched a petition against the Formenton signing that has gathered nearly 70,000 signatures. She said sexual assault survivors and women in general feel ignored and betrayed by the organization.
“I am Mama Stanley, but before anything else, I am a survivor,” she said. “Fans have pleaded with the Edmonton Oilers to listen, and this organization has chosen to move forward as though our voices do not matter.”
Oilers Defend the Decision to Sign Formenton
The Oilers have stood by the signing. Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman said the organization conducted thorough due diligence before offering Formenton a one-year contract worth US$850,000.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with Alex,” Bowman said on Wednesday. “He’s grown a lot in the intervening years from where he was then to where he is now. He’s shown that growth.” Bowman also acknowledged that fans hold differing views and said he respects everyone’s right to their opinion.
Meanwhile, another protester, Lesley Mutschke, described feeling devastated when she learned the team had signed Formenton. “My heart is quite broken,” she said. “I firmly believe that survivors should always be believed.”
Competing Petitions Reflect Divided Public Opinion
Loewen’s petition is not the only one circulating in connection with the Formenton controversy. A separate petition supporting the Oilers’ decision has collected more than 2,500 signatures. Its message urges respect for the court’s verdict and highlights the principle of presumption of innocence.
“The presumption of innocence is one of the foundations of the Canadian justice system,” the petition states. “It exists precisely because accusations can permanently affect a person’s reputation, livelihood and future long before guilt has ever been established.”
The petition also states that supporting the Oilers’ decision to sign Formenton does not require anyone to minimize sexual assault. As the debate continues, the Oilers face growing pressure from fans and advocacy groups to reconsider a signing that has divided their fanbase ahead of the new season.
