The NHL sent a memo to teams last week clarifying what players can and cannot do as part of themed celebrations this season, including banning the use of rainbow-colored tape to the pride nights that have become a hot topic in hockey. .
The updated guidelines reaffirm that player uniforms and on-ice equipment for official team games, warm-ups and practices cannot be altered to reflect theme nights, including Pride celebrations, hockey against cancer or military recognition celebrations. Players may voluntarily participate in themed off-ice celebrations.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday, hours before the season opened with three games, that the league had sent the updated memo, which was first reported by ESPN.
François Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images
The You Can Play Project, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ participation in sports and has partnered with the NHL for the past decade, tore into the league, declaring, “If hockey is for everyone, this is not the way to go. »
“It is now clear that the NHL is moving backwards from its long-standing commitment to inclusion and continues to dismantle all of its cutting-edge work on 2SLGBTQ+ belonging,” the YCP Project said in a statement. “We are now at a point where all the progress made and relationships established with our community are at risk. Making the decision to eradicate our visibility in hockey – by eliminating symbols like jerseys and now the pride ribbon – immediately dampens the impact of the introduction of hockey. more diverse fans and players in sports.
Controversy over players wearing pride-themed gear started last season
The NHL decided in June do not allow teams to wear any themed jersey for warmups after a handful of players opted out of those situations during Pride Night last season. The league said players opting out of pride nights was a distraction from the work its teams were doing in the community.
“You know what our goals and our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it’s at the league level or the club level,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said in February during All-Star Weekend festivities. “But we also need to respect some individual choices, and some people are more comfortable engaging in causes than others. And being diverse and welcoming requires understanding those differences.”
Ivan Provorov of Philadelphia was the first player decide not to participate during warmups when the Flyers wore rainbow-colored jerseys before their Pride Night game in January, citing his Russian Orthodox religion.
Six other players followed for various reasons – Russians Ilya Lyubushkin, Denis Gurianov and Andrei Kuzmenko and Canadians James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal – and individual teams, including the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Blackhawks. Chicago, have decided not to have any players. wear Pride jerseys during warm-ups.
“The Pride Tape team is extremely disappointed by the NHL’s decision,” Pride Tape creators said in a statement. “Despite this setback, we are encouraged for what lies ahead, based on our recent conversations across all areas of the sport.”
Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly told reporters in Toronto he wishes players were allowed to do more and be more involved.
“I’m going to continue to be involved in the community and offer support to communities and groups that want it (and) need it,” Rielly said.
