Arr, NHL star Connor McDavid be havin' a quarrel with the ban o' Pride-themed stick tape. Bruins captain be spyin' both sides o' the argument, matey!
2023-10-11
Arr, the mighty Connor McDavid, aye! He be tellin' the scurvy dogs of the press that he be yearnin' to see them fancy "specialty" jerseys and that Pride tape be returnin' to the league, by Davy Jones' locker! Shiver me timbers, that be a bold request indeed!
The NHL has announced that players will no longer wear "specialty" jerseys during warmups, including Pride-themed jerseys that support the LGBTQ+ community. This ban also extends to pride-themed tape on sticks during Pride Nights. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman cited the need to keep the focus on the ice as the reason for this decision. However, some players, including Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand, have expressed their disappointment with the NHL's move.McDavid stated that he has always enjoyed the various themed nights and expressed his desire to see the specialty jerseys brought back. Marchand believes that players should be able to support who and what they want without being used to push political agendas, but also expressed his disappointment that common ground cannot be found.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov previously sparked controversy when he refused to wear the team's Pride-themed jersey, citing his Russian Orthodox religion. His decision led to his jersey becoming one of the best sellers in the league.
Some teams have also decided to backtrack on their planned Pride Night events, while other players have opted not to participate due to religious or safety concerns.