The Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign a former Team Canada junior player acquitted of sexual assault last year has come as a massive body check to one longtime superfan.
Mary Loewen — affectionately known among Oilers fans as Mama Stanley for dressing as a sequined Stanley Cup during the playoffs — took to social media to say she’d no longer support the team.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are defending the signing in direct emails to fans who have complained about the decision.
“I am deeply disappointed by the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign Alex Formenton,” Loewen’s post Wednesday says.
“Although he was acquitted in court, I cannot ignore my conscience or what this decision represents to me.”
Loewen did not respond to a request for an interview.
The NHL team announced earlier Wednesday it had signed Formenton to a one-year contract worth US$850,000. He was one of five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team accused of sexual assault.
The charges stemmed from an encounter with a woman after a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ont. All five players were acquitted following a trial last year. The NHL later reinstated them, allowing them to resume playing beginning Dec. 1, 2025.
After the signing, Formenton said he was grateful to join the team after what he called a “difficult road.”
A longtime hockey fan, Loewen caught Oiler fever during the team’s heyday in the mid-1980s, when the team won its first of five Stanley Cups.
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In recent years, she developed the Mama Stanley persona and has been a regular fixture at Oilers games, with other team diehards posing for pictures with her.
Some of her fans live as far away as Germany and Australia.
Loewen’s post Wednesday says her decision to no longer support the Oilers isn’t tied to the team’s already-signed players, but to management’s decision to bring on Formenton.
She says she feels betrayed and that she’s lost a team she’s supported for most of her life.
“As a sexual assault survivor, I must stand by my morals and stand with the woman at the centre of this case,” she said.
“For that reason, as long as Formenton remains an Oiler, I CANNOT AND WILL NOT support or cheer for this team.”
The Formenton signing also sparked concerns for groups that support survivors.
“The Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign Alex Formenton will have a significant impact on fans, survivors, and the broader Edmonton community,” the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton said in a statement to Global News.
“For many survivors, this decision will be viewed not simply as a hockey matter, but as a painful example of sports culture prioritizing talent over accountability.”
SACE said decisions of this nature send powerful messages about an organization’s values and its commitment to safety, consent, and respect.
“We urge all organizations to carefully consider the broader impact their hiring decisions have on the community.”
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The Oilers defended the signing by pointing to what they described as a “lengthy due diligence process,” Formenton’s acquittal and his reinstatement by the NHL and Hockey Canada.
In an email to a fan, the Oilers’ ticketing and customer service team said the organization reviewed the legal proceedings, the NHL and Hockey Canada processes and “all of the information available” before making its decision.
“The team also spoke directly to Alex and those close to the matter,” the email read.
The organization said it was “comfortable providing Alex with the opportunity to return to the NHL as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.”
“Alex is grateful for the opportunity and, like every Oilers player, he is expected to uphold the standards and expectations of our organization,” the team wrote. “The Edmonton Oilers remain committed to fostering a respectful, professional and positive environment for our players, staff and fans.”
The Oilers were eliminated from the first round of last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs after a 5-2 Game 6 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The team fell in the final in both 2024 and 2025 to the Florida Panthers.
Loewen’s post did not state whether she’d back another team. She ended her post by saying she was still “Mama Stanley.”
“Mama Stanley belongs to ME — not the Edmonton Oilers organization,” she said.
“She represents BELIEVE, kindness, children, survivors and community. I will not abandon her or EVER compromise her values.”
He has gone through the judicial process. He has been cleared of all charges and done it all without crying or complaining. Mama Stanley can always look South and cheer for the Flames!!
Innocent until proven guilty, unless you’re a hockey player and then your just guilty.
Some words are difficult for people to understand.
Acquitted means a judge or jury has officially declared a person not guilty of a crime.
Legal Meaning Not Guilty: The court finds that the prosecution did not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
No Conviction: The defendant goes free and has no criminal conviction for that specific charge.
So many famous people being accused of assault either for the money or the 15 minutes of fame.
Time to find a new team.
I will miss the McDavid highlights live. 😢
Hope the foul mouths listed below get to go thru some personal experiences with their family members.
Oilers have been on the path to new lows for some time now. That direction is irrelevant as long as all seats are full.
Shane, so you would say the same of that woman who offed her three kids? If she was acquitted would you think she still should suffer?
So even though he’s not guilty, people will still hate on him.
The “hockey culture “ and the “boys will be boys” attitudes are finally being broken down. No one should have to tolerate assault or abuse. Perhaps some Oiler fans feel too much fuss is being made over this one guy but the incident shows poor character and no empathy for another person. Every man in that room should be ashamed.
Glad I won’t have to see her again
Hard to believe she is an assault victim
Huge difference between being acquitted and being innocent. Especially in a “He said She said” case. Just look at how innocent a former famous football player was.
who gives a rats ass what she thinks
“I can no longer support this team.” Says the purple-hair while watching from the free viewing area of the ice district.
What happened to forgive and all the Bible stuff. He made a mistake like she did.
He was ACQUITTED!
The judge even said she didn’t find the complainant’s testimony “credible.”
I repeat, she didn’t find her testimony, “credible.”
Doesn’t that mean anything? What about innocent until proven guilty?
Goodbye to the queen of cancel culture. Wipe the glitter from your eyes and get over your past history and stop hating men.
This young man has been tried for the accusations put forth by this young lady and found not guilty. End of story. He is a freeman and owes no further explanation. He deserves the right to carry on his life without further consequences. We all make mistakes and he has paid a price for his with the constant accusations and inuendoes thrown at him EVEN THOUGH THE COURTS HAVE DECLARED HIM NOT GUILTY. Get a life people.
Absolutely whole heartedly agree. As a lifetime Oiler fan I also will no longer support this team or the NHL. 1st and foremost I am a father of a strong intelligent woman and cannot abide these actions. This just re-affirms to young men that as long as you have a talent, you can get away with moral indiscretions such as this and more importantly degrades our women showing them that they are LESS important and disposable. Very sad.
And people still say that false accusations don’t ruin lives.
This is the only player to get signed out of all those accused, even though they were acquitted of all charges, and STILL they aren’t allowed to move on because scorned misandrists will huff and haw until his career is over.
Reminds me of Kevin spacey, also acquitted of all charges and was found innocent, wonder where he’s been lately….
Women get closer and closer to losing their rights every day, eventually enough is going to be enough..
So they were acquitted but the fat lady says they are guilty anyways. Oh well tough beans for her.
Babcock hire was bad enough. After decades as an Oiler’s fan, this is the last straw. No new merch for me this season, and TSN cancelled.
We do not care what the courts say. We the ‘mob’ have decided he is guilty and will provide the punishments. Now were did I put my torch and pitchfork.
Oh no
Some old lady is upset
This isnt news
Its clickbait from a lazy “journalist”
@James Hart – acquitted does not mean not guilty. It means the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Totally agree with Mama Stanley!!
Must be a slow news day for Global news Edmonton
He was proven innocent in a court-of-law. Give the guy a second chance.
He was aquitted.