Petition seeking reversal of Oilers' Formenton signing tops 19,000 signatures
The petition, started by longtime fan Mary Loewen, does not dispute Alex Formenton's 2025 acquittal but says the Oilers should not have signed him regardless.
Why it matters
The dispute over the Oilers' handling of the signing has drawn public backlash and renewed debate over accountability in hockey culture.
An online petition demanding the Edmonton Oilers reverse their signing of forward Alex Formenton had gathered more than 19,000 signatures as of Friday morning. It was launched by Mary Loewen, a longtime fan known as "Mama Stanley," who said she would stop supporting the team while Formenton remains on the roster.
The Oilers signed Formenton, 26, to a one-year, US$850,000 contract on Wednesday. He was one of five former world junior players acquitted last year of sexual assault charges tied to a 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont. The petition states it does not challenge the acquittal but argues fans and sponsors aren't obligated to support every roster move that follows a criminal case, and calls on the team to explain its decision-making and adopt survivor-informed standards for future signings.
The Oilers defended the move, citing a "lengthy due diligence process" that included reviewing the legal proceedings and speaking directly with Formenton. The NHL reinstated Formenton and the other four players last year, effective Dec. 1, 2025, and deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Formenton faced no additional league requirements before signing. An independent appeal board ruled last month that all five breached Hockey Canada's code of conduct, but Formenton was the only one immediately eligible for reinstatement from Hockey Canada's suspension; continued bans were recommended for Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Michael McLeod.
The signing is the Oilers' second controversial off-season move, following general manager Stan Bowman's June hiring of head coach Mike Babcock, who had not coached in seven years after resigning from Columbus amid an investigation into player treatment allegations.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.