The Edmonton Oilers have signed Alex Formenton to a one-year contract valued at $850,000. The move has triggered a public boycott by prominent superfan Mary Loewen and sparked condemnation from Edmonton-based support centers.
The $850,000 return of Alex Formenton
The Edmonton Oilers announced on Wednesday that they have signed Alex Formenton, a former member of the Canada World Junior team, to a one-year deal worth $850,000. According to the report, Formenton had not played in the NHL since the 2021-22 season, following a period of legal turmoil involving sexual assault charges stemming from a 2018 incident. While Formenton was ultimately acquitted of those charges, his absence from professional hockey has been prolonged.
During a recent captain's skate, Alex Formenton told reporters that the last eight years had been difficult for him and his family, stating that he looks forward to growing as a person and a player. This return to the ice has been supported by Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who described the signing as a "great opportunity" and praised Formenton's transparency throughout the process.
Why Mary Loewen is abandoning the Oilers
Mary Loewen, a legendary figure in the Edmonton Oilers fanbase known as "Mama Stanley" for her silver, Stanley Cup-inspired attire, has vowed to stop supporting the team. As a survivor of sexual assault, Loewen stated on social media that she cannot ignore her conscience or what the decision to sign Formenton represents. She expressed a feeling of betrayal toward the organization she has represented for years, asserting that she will not cheer for the team while Formenton remains on the roster.
Loewen's decision highlights a sharp divide between the legal outcome of a trial and the moral expectations of a loyal fanbase. By siding with the woman at the center of the 2018 case, Loewen has transformed her personal history into a public protest against the Edmonton Oilers' roster management.
The due diligence of Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson
In response to the backlash,the Edmonton Oilers' communications arm defended the signing through executive vice president Tim Shipton. Shipton stated that team executives Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson conducted thorough due diligence before finalizing the contract. the organization emphasized that Alex Formenton has been officially reinstated by both the NHL and Hockey Canada , providing a regulatory green light for his return to professional play.
The Edmonton Oilers maintain that they expect Formenton to uphold the club's standards and are "excited to have him on the team," as reported in the team's official statement. However,the reliance on institutional reinstatement by the NHL and Hockey Canada has not quieted critics who believe the team's internal standards should exceed the minimum requirements of league governing bodies.
A 1,000-signature petition and the SACE response
The signing has drawn formal condemnation from the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) and the Saffron Centre. Both organizations released statements calling the Edmonton Oilers' decision "deeply disappointing ," arguing that professional athletes are viewed as role models and should be held to a higher standard of community leadership.
Public anger has further manifested in a petition that has already gathered over a thousand signatures. The petition argues that a criminal acquittal does not obligate sponsors, survivors, or fans to accept the employment of the individual. This collective action suggests that for a significant portion of the Edmonton community, the legal system's verdict is insufficient to erase the social stigma associated with the 2018 allegations.
The conflict between NHL reinstatement and survivor trust
The controversy surrounding Alex Formenton is part of a larger national conversation regarding the responsibility of sports teams to safeguard survivors and uphold community values. While the Edmonton Oilers point to legal acquittals and league reinstatements, the reaction from Mary Loewen and SACE suggests that the "due diligence" performed by Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson may have focused more on legal liability than on social impact.
Several critical questions remain unanswered regarding the Oilers' internal process. It is unclear what specific criteria Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson used to determine that Formenton was fit for the team's culture, or how the organization plans to reconcile its commitment to a "supportive environment" with the vocal opposition of its own superfans.. Furthermore, the report does not clarify if the team consulted with survivor advocacy groups before announcing the $850,000 contract.
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