Formenton's Oilers deal draws Edmonton protest amid look at scandal's aftermath
A protest was held outside Rogers Arena as the Oilers opened their pre-season, tied to backlash over the club's signing of Alex Formenton.
Why it matters
The Oilers' decision to sign Formenton has sparked public backlash and protest in Edmonton over how the team handled a player tied to the Hockey Canada case.
Five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team — Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote and Michael McLeod — were acquitted in July 2025 of sexual assault charges stemming from a 2018 Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont. The NHL reinstated all five, effective Dec. 1, 2025, while Hockey Canada's appeal board found all five breached its code of conduct and extended national-team bans for three of them.
Formenton, 26, signed a one-year, US$850,000 contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Sept. 9 after three seasons with Switzerland's HC Ambri-Piotta and one year out of hockey. He was the only one of the five made immediately eligible for reinstatement in Hockey Canada programs. The signing prompted an online petition calling for the deal to be reversed and a protest outside Rogers Arena during the Oilers' pre-season opener against Winnipeg. The team has defended the move, citing the acquittal, his reinstatements and a lengthy due-diligence process.
The other four players have landed elsewhere. Carter Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and helped the team reach the 2026 Stanley Cup final; he remains suspended by Hockey Canada until November 2027. Dillon Dubé signed with the St. Louis Blues after an AHL stint, with his ban running until 2028. Cal Foote is playing in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves and becomes eligible for reinstatement Nov. 10. Michael McLeod signed with KHL club Avangard Omsk and faces the longest ban, ineligible until 2030.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.