Mama Stanley's Edmonton Oilers petition is picking up steam
The Edmonton Oilers are doing everything they can to put together a winning season, but their most recent move has drawn a ton of backlash.
That backlash has now turned into a petition calling on the Oilers to reverse their decision on Alex Formenton, who was signed to a one-year, $850,000 contract on Wednesday.
Formenton was one of five players accused of sexual assault stemming from an incident involving a woman following a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario, in 2018. All five players were acquitted in 2025.
The petition was started by longtime Oilers superfan Mary Loewen, better known as “Mama Stanley,” who says she can no longer support the team while Formenton remains on its roster.
As of Thursday afternoon, the petition has collected over 4,000 signatures and is continuing to gain momentum.
“I am deeply disappointed by the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign Alex Formenton,” Loewen wrote in the petition.
“Although he was acquitted in court, I cannot ignore my conscience or what this decision represents to me.”
Loewen, who has been a prominent figure among Oilers fans for years, said her decision was also influenced by her own experience as a sexual-assault survivor.
“Really disappointed in Edmonton signing Alex Formenton,” one fan who signed the petition wrote. “They show no respect for their female fans.”
The Oilers have defended the decision to sign Formenton, with general manager Stan Bowman saying the organization believes the forward deserves the opportunity to return to the NHL.
Formenton, 26, hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2021-22 season with the Ottawa Senators. He spent the past three seasons playing in Switzerland before getting this new opportunity with the Oilers.
The petition may not change the Oilers’ decision, though it does make it clear that the addition is one that is alienating a significant portion of their fan base.
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