Alex Formenton scored on a breakaway in Saturday’s pre-season win over the Winnipeg Jets, his first goal in Edmonton Oilers colors and his first appearance in an NHL pre-season game since 2022. The goal itself wasn’t what generated the most discussion afterward. The way the team announced it was.
The setting was already loaded. Around 100 protesters gathered outside Rogers Place before the game to voice their opposition to the signing, while inside the building there were no boos when Formenton’s shot went in. Edmonton won 5-2. Then the club’s official account posted the highlight with a five-word caption: “Alex extends the #Oilers lead.”
Alex Formenton’s goal
No surname. That detail was what fans latched onto, and the post has since drawn nearly 800,000 views.
“Purposely using only Alex Formenton’s first name in an attempt to mislead fans about who he is sure is something,” one person wrote.
“Admin won’t even use the guy’s last name. Gee I wonder why,” another added.
Others weren’t certain it was deliberate, but said the choice stood out regardless.
“Alex as in Alex Formenton? It’s odd that something unique is used for everyone else so you know exactly who they are talking about, but for him they use his extremely common and generic first name. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but…” one fan wrote.
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Worth noting is that the video attached to the post carried the standard NHL caption identifying him in full, reading “Alex Formenton with a Goal vs. Winnipeg Jets.”
Formenton was asked twice after the game about the anger surrounding his signing, and declined to engage with it both times.
“To be honest, I’ve been laser-focused on trying to make this team and get better every day. Whatever role I have on this team, trying to perfect that,” he said. “It was nice to get a goal, but it was nice to get the legs moving and get back up to pace.”
Praise from Babcock
Head coach Mike Babcock was considerably more effusive, suggesting the 27-year-old could end up being a “difference-maker” for Edmonton.
The reaction traces back to why Formenton was available in the first place. He was one of five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team charged with sexual assault following a Hockey Canada gala in London, Ontario, and all five were acquitted in July 2025.
Formenton was the only one of the group eligible for immediate reinstatement by Hockey Canada, which is what cleared the way for Edmonton to sign him to a one-year, $850,000 contract earlier this month. A petition calling on the club to terminate that contract has since collected more than 65,000 signatures.
READ MORE: Oilers’ Alex Formenton petition passes 60,000 signatures
