Edmonton Oilers lose support of superfan Mama Stanley after Formenton signing

The Edmonton Oilers made headlines on Wednesday by announcing the signing of Alex Formenton, a former member of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team, to a one-year contract valued at US$850,000. Formenton was one of five players charged with sexual assault following an incident after a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario. All five players were acquitted by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia during a trial in 2025, after which the NHL reinstated them to resume playing beginning December 1, 2025.

Formenton, who has spent the last three seasons playing in Switzerland’s National League, acknowledged the controversial nature of his return in a Wednesday afternoon interview.

“Throughout this whole process, I’ve been open and honest of my actions in it. Given that, I think that has granted me an opportunity today.”

Mama Stanley Rejects the Oilers Over Formenton Contract

Mary Loewen, a fixture at team watch parties and playoff games recognizable by her sequined Stanley Cup costume, took to social media on Wednesday night to declare that she could no longer cheer for the franchise.

“I am deeply disappointed by the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign Alex Formenton. Although he was acquitted in court, I cannot ignore my conscience or what this decision represents to me. As a sexual assault survivor, I must stand by my morals and stand with the woman at the centre of this case. For that reason, as long as Formenton remains an Oiler, I CANNOT AND WILL NOT support or cheer for this team.”

Oilers injury update: Frederik Andersen’s absence stems from lingering knee injury

Loewen clarified in her announcement that her grievance lies exclusively with the front office, emphasizing her continued affection for the players who have worn the jersey through recent Stanley Cup runs, including trips to the final in 2024 and 2025 against the Florida Panthers. She also asserted ownership of her public persona, noting that the character she built during the team’s mid-1980s heyday and subsequent playoff pushes belongs to her alone rather than the organization.

Stan Bowman Defends Roster Addition and Second Chances

The franchise has a documented history of welcoming players and executives with troubled pasts.

League-Wide Context and the 2018 World Junior Fallout

Formenton’s return to the National Hockey League reflects a broader trend regarding the reintegration of the players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada investigation. While Formenton was the first of the five players to surrender to authorities, other members of the roster have also found traction across the league.

Despite the judicial outcome where Justice Carroccia noted the Crown could not meet its burden of proof and deemed the complainant’s evidence unreliable, public sentiment remains deeply divided. Within an hour of announcing the contract on social media, the Oilers’ post drew hundreds of predominantly negative replies, signaling that the legal acquittal has not erased the reputational fallout for the athletes involved or the organizations willing to sign them.