NHL says players cannot use rainbow-colored sticks on Pride nights

2024-12-26 00:43:16 source:lotradecoin cross-chain trading solutions category:Scams

The NHL sent a memo to teams last week clarifying what players can and cannot do as part of theme celebrations this season, including a ban on the use of rainbow-colored stick tape for the Pride nights that have become a hot-button issue in hockey.

The updated guidance reaffirms on-ice player uniforms and gear for games, warmups and official team practices cannot be altered to reflect theme nights, including Pride, Hockey Fights Cancer or military appreciation celebrations. Players can voluntarily participate in themed celebrations off the ice.

Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday, a few hours before the season opened with a trio of games, that the league sent the updated memo, which was first reported by ESPN.

Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens wearing the Pride Night jersey during the warm-up period of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre on April 6, 2023, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Francois 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, ripped the league by saying, "If Hockey is for Everyone, this is not the way forward."

"It is now clear that the NHL is stepping back from its longstanding commitment to inclusion, and continuing to unravel all of its one-time industry-leading 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, is in jeopardy. Making decisions to eradicate our visibility in hockey — by eliminating symbols like jerseys and now Pride Tape — immediately stunts the impact of bringing in more diverse fans and players into the sport."

Controversy over players donning Pride-themed gear started last season

The NHL decided in June not to allow teams to wear any theme jerseys for warmups after a handful of players opted out of those situations during Pride night last season. The league has said players opting out of Pride nights served as a distraction to the work its teams were doing in the community.

"You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it's at the league level or at the club level," Commissioner Gary Bettman said in February during All-Star Weekend festivities. "But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences."

Philadelphia's Ivan Provorov was the first player to decide not to take part in 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 a variety of reasons — fellow Russians Ilya Lyubushkin, Denis Gurianov and Andrei Kuzmenko and Canadians James Reimer and Eric and Marc Staal — and individual teams including the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks decided not to have any players wear Pride jerseys in warmup.

"The Pride Tape team is extremely disappointed by the NHL's decision," the makers of Pride Tape said in a statement. "Despite this setback, we are encouraged for what lies ahead based on our recent conversations from every corner of the sport."

Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly told reporters in Toronto he wished players had the right to do more and be more involved.

"I'm going to continue to be involved in the community and offer support to those communities and those groups that want that (and) need that," Rielly said.

    In:
  • NHL
  • Pride
  • LGBTQ+
  • Hockey

More:Scams

Recommend

What was 2024's best movie? From 'The Substance' to 'Conclave,' our top 10

Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, deliv

After Mel Tucker firing at Michigan State, investigation unable to find source of leaks

A sexual harassment complaint at Michigan State University – which led to the firing of Mel Tucker,

Zac Brown and Kelly Yazdi Announce Breakup 4 Months After Marriage

It's over between Zac Brown and his new wife Kelly Yazdi.The two have split and are set to legally e