‘Fans have pleaded’: Protesters against Formenton gather before Oilers home game

Dozens of protesters chanted "no means no" and "drunk isn't consent" outside Rogers Place arena ahead of the Edmonton Oilers' first home game on Saturday. The team's controversial new forward, Alex Formenton, featured at the event. Protesters held signs with messages such as "Believe Survivors" as fans streamed in, reigniting calls for the Oilers to rescind their signing of Formenton.

Jaclyn Prouse, a protester, stated that the case highlighted the dark side of Canada's hockey culture and that she would no longer support her hometown team due to Formenton's involvement. Mary Loewen, a superfan known as "Mama Stanley," said the sexual assault survivors and women in general felt ignored and betrayed by the team.

Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman acknowledged the team's due diligence in signing Formenton, emphasizing that he has seen his growth since the 2018 incident. Two petitions supporting and opposing the decision to sign Formenton have garnered thousands of signatures, emphasizing the importance of respecting the presumption of innocence in Canada's justice system.