r/EdmontonOilers • u/iXeons • 2d ago
How do you guys feel about fans boycotting the team?
I was seeing my therapist (a fellow Oilers fan) today and I mentioned how good the team’s doing this year so far. She told me she hasn’t watched them. I asked how come and she said it’s due to Formenton. I brought up how he wasn’t found guilty, and she replied saying he was acquitted, meaning lack of evidence more than innocence. I respected her opinion and moved on to bigger fish to speak on.
But it does beg the question for me:
How do ya’ll feel about those signing the petitions and renouncing their support for the team?
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u/Skatekuntz 93 NUGENT-HOPKINS 2d ago
I think it’s completely valid. After all we watch hockey as entertainment. They have decided that it no longer is morally right to support the team. If he’s traded or what have it and they start cheering for the team again it doesn’t make them any less of a fan. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
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u/Tatanka97 2d ago
For starters, hockey is just a game. Secondly, people can feel how they want to feel. It's what it is.
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u/kkslider55 22 SAVOIE 2d ago
We have the right to keep watching, and they have the right to stop.
I'm making the choice to continue watching even though I'm not thrilled with how this stuff has panned out. But between Bowman, Babcock, and Formenton, I can't blame anybody for choosing not to support the team. They've collected controversial figures like infinity stones.
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u/Porcupickle 89 GAGNER 1d ago
I don't think formenton was worth the bad press.
He fucking sucks. He's fast, so he just sucks at a high rate of speed.
I don't blame anyone for still watching or not watching. I blame people who see the results of trials like these and when there is no conviction, conclude that the accuser is clearly just a whore looking for a payday. I think some people should consider how the women in their lives would react if they ran their views by them.
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u/Whos-That-Pokeman 1d ago
He’s been our go to pk guy. Hes got like 21 hits. Hes +4. On pace for like 35-40 points.
The FMJ line has been a pretty solid line.
He’s a great addition.
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u/TheTiniestLizard 18 HYMAN 2d ago
I understand it. Got to respect people who stand by their values.
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u/These_Cup2836 2d ago
I genuinely couldn’t give a singular piece of crap. Have more important things to worry about
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u/Long-Recipe713 2d ago
For me…it’s been cumulative. Between Evander Kane, hiring Stan Bowman, now Alex Formenton, and Mike Babcock… it’s like this team has a hard on for shitty people.
….ridiculous ticket prices the way the arena district has increasingly catered to wealth while displacing the homeless and the fact that the Oilers are one of the most valuable franchises in hockey has left a bad taste in my mouth.
I totally understand if you’re still a fan though if watching the Oilers brings you joy im still stoked for you…I just find it difficult to separate the team on the ice from the organization behind it.
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u/supermeatboy10 89 GAGNER 2d ago
Respect their decision and commitment to it a lot. If I was a bit less cynical about the world I'd probably be doing the same thing
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u/Oilerator 98 PULJUJARVI 2d ago
I think it's ridiculous and completely performative
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u/SadBuilding9234 2 BOUCHARD 2d ago
I'm convinced they were never actually Oilers fans at all, that they were looking for something to whine about online, and this is just the convenient target of the moment. In two weeks they'll figure out which C-list celebs wore culturally insensitive Halloween costumes, and that'll be the new mission.
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u/FeelsKoolaidMan 22 SAVOIE 2d ago
I think the oilers are very embarrassing for doing this shit but a bunch of sports teams do embarrassing shit. Dont fault anyone for not watching.
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u/CloseToMyActualName 2d ago
They're free to do so, but it strikes me as signaling more than anything.
Other players accused of SA? Evander Kane (twice), Patrick Kane, Artemin Panarin (twice), and I'm sure there's others.
From what I can tell the accusations against Formenton in specific are milder and less substantiated than any of the above three, yet he's the only one getting any real blowback.
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u/EmuFume29 2d ago
Well team because those other dudes aren't on that therapists team. So they don't count. Blinders on, head up ass
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u/GrizzlyIsland22 18 HYMAN 2d ago
I signed the petition and I'm not wearing any Oilers branded gear in public. I still watch, though. My wife is refusing to even watch the games and I won't be spending any money on the Oilers
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u/ProofByVerbosity 1d ago
Why somebody does or doesnt want to support any team is very far out of ny realm of giving a shit. I dont like the acquisition, and I dont think hes worth piling on the reputational damage. I signed the petition, but of course Im still support the team regardless. Its my home team ive supported for decades. Maybe he will prove me wrong, but I'll never liked him.
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u/thepope870 2d ago
I watched the trial from start to finish. The man was acquitted and deserves the chance to redeem himself moving forward. If someone can't trust the opinion of an unbiased court, then they were never truly interested in fairness or justice.
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u/hockey_decoded 2d ago
Did you listen to the Canadian True Crime series about it?
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u/thepope870 2d ago
I watched the trial live and made my own judgments based on the proceedings and evidence presented. Nothing more is needed. The case was closed when the trial finished.
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u/hockey_decoded 2d ago
But that's objectively not true. I suggest you listen to the Canadian True Crime about it, or at the very least dig a little deeper.
"The glove doesn't fit, case closed."
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u/otra_sarita 14h ago
Very Very famously, that was a ploy by Johnny Cochran who was aware that OJ Simpson had murdered his ex-wife and her friend. Johnny Cochran did not ever represent Simpson again, including in his civil trial where he was found libel for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Also the catchphrase is "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit." If you're going to borrow the phrase of a master trial attorney, at least get it right.
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u/hockey_decoded 10h ago
Buddy I know the phrase lol. I was referring to the idea of how a trial can be biased pre prejudiced
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u/SadBuilding9234 2 BOUCHARD 2d ago
"Yeah, you followed the trial, but have you listened to this podcast?"
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u/Perogy888 2d ago
This is more of a was there consent or not and it was deemed there likely was consent or implied consent.
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u/markham117 56 YAMAMOTO 1d ago
Even if there was implied consent it doesn't prove they didn't do anything wrong especially if coerced. Most in that situation will go along with it when they're impaired as a defense mechanism to avoid any potential consequences because they're not thinking properly, only to deeply regret it later once they sober up.
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u/Perogy888 1d ago
From the trial it sounded like she was harassing the entire team and calling them pussies for not joining. The whole situation is embarrassing but i dont think there was foul play. Even her texts after the act showed she was proud. I dont know how this is getting twisted up, compare this to the cornell 7 where there was actual wrong doing and injustice.
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u/markham117 56 YAMAMOTO 1d ago
Like I stated in my other comment in this thread that is all hearsay, and for all we know she could have acted like she was proud afterwards to convince herself it was okay to avoid feeling shame. I highly suggest looking into the fawn response to get a better idea of how she might have felt in this situation. Also the consent was not given beforehand, she only gave consent to sleep with Mcleod when the others decided to show up, hence why I still feel they put her in a difficult situation and that was inherently wrong.
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u/markham117 56 YAMAMOTO 1d ago
Unfortunately the courts don't always get it 100% right, as much as we want to believe they do. It's why most rape victims never pursue charges because it's mostly their story against the perpetrators. Without concrete evidence of wrongdoing there will always be reasonable doubt which is why it's a flawed way of deciding if they're truly guilty or not. hence why they were "acquitted" rather than deemed as "not guilty".
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u/gabacus_39 97 McDAVID 2d ago
You'd think a therapist would be a little more grounded in reality considering there was a trial and a judge made it perfectly clear what she thought through her verdict.
Anyway, everyone is entitled to think whatever they want. I watch the Oilers for entertainment and I know that the 700 or 800 players in the NHL aren't all choir boys. I had much more of a problem with Bryan Marchment playing for the Oilers back in the day. That guy lived to end careers.
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u/Old_General_6741 97 McDAVID 2d ago
Go do what you want to do. You want to boycott, go ahead. I don't care. Just don't force it on us. I will continue to watch this team.
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u/DanfromCalgary 94 SMYTH 2d ago
I watched the video . Anyone upset about SA should be mad but I don’t know why they would be mad at him .. truly
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u/MildlyUnbothered27 2d ago
Eh they're choice whether the wanna support them or not, they'll be back.... doesnt seem to affect everyone else. Every game is still pack
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u/fence-connoisseur 2d ago
Im thankful to live in a country with a rule of law even or especially when outcomes dont fall in favor of my friends
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u/YungBeefaroni 92 PODKOLZIN 2d ago
I have a lot of conflicting feelings towards the team. I’m clearly not impressed by signing a certain player, and I haven’t been inspired by how the team has responded when asked about it.
That said, I love the sport. I’ve been a fan of the game and the team for as long as I can remember, and I refuse to let them take the joy I get from this game away from me.
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u/SnooOnions5029 92 PODKOLZIN 2d ago
I couldn’t care less about what other fans do. I’m not gonna pretend like I know a lot about the trial. But the justice system and the league agreed that he could come back. Obviously that doesn’t mean he didn’t do anything wrong, but it’s a very delicate topic that I’m not qualified to discuss. Do I think it’s weird that management thought a league min depth forward PKer was worth the shit ton of negative press and distraction? Yes. As a player, has his speed impressed me? Also yes. Is he noticeable every game? Definitely not but he has his moments. Again, there were tons of fast bottom 6 penalty killers available in free agency, kinda strange that they still picked him despite everything. But I’m still watching every game and I’m cheering for every oiler, including him as a player on the ice in an oilers jersey.
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u/ContributionMuted118 2 BOUCHARD 2d ago
I don't care too much. If you don't want to watch don't watch. Nothing more to it imo
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u/indubadiblyy 2d ago
Top 3 most profitable sport in the world. Would an elephant feel an ant crawl on their skin?
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u/Plucault 2d ago
Top 5 most valuable franchises in the NHL.
There are people in the NHL that have done way worse things than Formington. Honestly, would just tell me they are a person that buys into faux collective outrage.
Tons of people like that in all political colours
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u/East_Independent8855 2d ago
All over this country men and women work in their respective fields of expertise with criminal records, or perhaps being charged and not convicted. Few doing so with as much attention on them as Formenton. Formenton was not only acquitted but also was found to have engaged in consensual sex in the bathroom with a willing participant. This finding of the judge should be the response whenever another references not guilty doesn’t mean innocent.
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u/Dear-Tax4928 94 SMYTH 2d ago
I mean are we going to ban him from society completely and in every way. She’s entitled to her opinion but I’d be looking for a therapist with season tix on the glass bro. Doesn’t seem healthy for you to continue with her. Man 2 man.
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u/Same-Image-2534 2d ago
I wonder how many people who are “actually fans,” ie attend games/watch games have boycotted the team? I suspect it’s just people who never really cared about the team in the first place now using it as some signalling as others mentioned.
Disclaimer; I watched the videos or followed the case so I’m not saying they are right or wrong
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u/Still_Interview6360 1d ago
Should have explained to your therapist that acquitted literally means not guilty.
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u/Whos-That-Pokeman 1d ago
It’s very stupid. They’re saying hes not technically innocent but he’s not technically guilty so they’re boycotting and deciding he’s guilty.
After reading things that were done and said, I don’t think EM is a good person. I think she was doing some depraved stuff. Based on the evidence of her basically chasing down their cab, not looking intoxicated on surveillance and Everything she said.
At the same time, the guys said some depraved unethical stuff that’s pretty gross.
At the end of the day, I don’t think anyone deserves punishment on what happened.
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u/Quirky-Stay4158 2d ago
My thoughts are if they are upset this time or have they been upset Everytime and continue to come back?
Let's not pretend these guys are church boys now. Accusations or not, multiples of players, coaches and management have joined the team with checkered pasts. Did they care then? What made them change?
I've found more than a few of the people saying they won't watch because of Formenton. To also be the same that told me last season they didn't give a fuck about hockey, for those individuals I feel it's just about being contrarian rather than being an advocate for women's rights and resisting / rejecting the patriarchy. They are cool with it sometimes and against it when it suites them.
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u/Extreme-Event7736 2d ago
I was hoping these “exodus” of so called fans will help drive the tickets and stuff cost down, but so far the games still packed and Im not saving anything :/
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u/EmuFume29 2d ago
People are dumb but people are going to people. Granted there's a lot of men getting off from doing horrible things to women like that kid swimmer down in the states and yes that bs has to stop. However, groupies exist. From what I gathered, though no proof, she was there to do the things that happened. When she didn't get the one she wanted or whatever she cried about it. Those scenarios happen. So sure, boycott the team. No one cares. Get over yourselves, move on. All the shit in the world and all the problems a person's gotta pick their hill
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u/HeyLookASquirrel79 18 HYMAN 2d ago
A therapist should not comment on it in a session with a client. I agree with her about the opinion on formenton though.
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u/seemefail 34 MOSS 2d ago
Doesn’t affect me one bit