NHL players are expressing their opposition to the league’s reactionary and misguided ban on Pride tape.
Now the question is, will actions follow their words?
Prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, which began Tuesday, the NHL sent out a memo clarifying its ban on players wearing speciality jerseys, including rainbow sweaters. Last season, seven players refused to wear Pride jerseys during warmups.
Despite representing a small minority of NHL players, commissioner Gary Bettman bowed to the homophobes.
On top of that, the NHL is barring players from putting Pride tape on their sticks, a practice that’s become fairly commonplace around the league.
Philadelphia Flyers alternate captain Scott Laughton spoke about the ridiculous policy Wednesday, and was the first player to indicate he’ll still put rainbow tape on his stick.
“You’ll probably see me with the Pride tape on that night anyway,” he said. “If they want to say something, they can.”
Tell him this queer fan has raised a fist up in solidarity with him. Well done. I hope he keeps speaking out and being visibly supportive
— x – whisperyvoices (@whisperyvoices) October 11, 2023
One of the league’s biggest stars, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, spoke out against the draconian edict this week as well.
“In terms of a league standpoint, is it something that I’d like to see put back into place one day? Certainly,” he told reporters.
McDavid also commented on the Pride jersey ban over the summer.
“I certainly can’t speak for every organization,“ he said. “I know in Edmonton, we were one of the first teams to use the Pride tape. We strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes the Pride nights.”
Oh yes, there’s that slogan: “Hockey is for everyone.” The NHL has slapped the supposed mission statement on merchandise and billboards over the last decade.
But at this point, they’re just empty words. The league is refusing to support its LGBTQ+ fans in the wake of modest blowback.
That’s not nearly good enough.
Legendary executive Brian Burke, whose son Brandon was gay and played a leading role in the NHL’s initial LGBTQ+ outreach efforts, called the league’s bans a “serious and surprising setback.”
Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau, the first player to put Pride tape on his stick, told reporters he disagrees with the ban as well.
“I think it’s not our decision. I fully supported it, and still support it,” he said. “If I get the chance to do it, I’ll do it.”
But when asked about whether he plans to defy the league, Huberdeau demurred.
“No, probably won’t. I don’t want to get into trouble,” he said.
And therein lies the next chapter of this story: will NHL players actually take on the league in a meaningful way? Laughton indicates he will. It would be a very powerful symbol if more players — McDavid, Huberdeau, Nashville Predators alternate captain Ryan McDonagh, Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman and others — joined him.
Given how players often band together, that may very well happen. Then the NHL would be put in a really awkward place.
Banning Pride tape via memo is one thing. But would the league really discipline players for supporting LGBTQ+ people?
It’s a question the NHL will likely be forced to answer. Talk about a self-inflicted wound.
Baron Wiseman
Oh, and don’t forget to put a Ukrainian flag on your helmet too! What other causes can I virtue signal to let everyone know what a fine human being I am?
Enough of this! Play the game. None of this pandering for sports fans.
charlietex
None of this pandering for sports fans? Yet you love it I’m sure when Aaron Rodgers goes all anti-VAX. Please. You aren’t against athletes have an opinion. You are just against athletes having an opinion that’s different than yours.
Baron Wiseman
@charlietex
The fact that I had to Google Aaron Rodgers, shows how off the mark you really are.
Jaesly
The NHL’s error was banning displays rather than making them optional. I think there are more Canadians in the league than Russians. Canadians don’t appreciate being told that can’t express their views.
charlietex
I see. So you aren’t actually a sports fan? You just come on here to troll. That is worse.
Baron Wiseman
@charlietex
Pardon me. I didn’t realize this was a sports website.
ShaverC
Hockey IS for everyone who enjoys it. The focus is on the game… not on who’s in the seats.
Brian
That’s a very smooth-brained response. We should be able to expect grown adults to have better reasoning and critical thinking skills. 🙁
charlietex
I was in the seats several times last season and won’t be this season. We’re you?
dbmcvey
Does the color of tape a player uses really keep you from enjoying the game?
Openminded
It’s disheartening to see the NHL revert to this homophobic stance. That said, in this day of “cancel culture”, I can somewhat understand players who don’t want to make any statement good or bad regarding the LGBT community, but get cancelled by the “no statement is a negative statement” crowd. I’m fine if someone doesn’t support my cause as long as they don’t demean my cause for no good reason. We all don’t actively support cancer awareness, however, that doesn’t mean we hate cancer awareness. I don’t personally actively support the Trans community because I simply can’t put myself there but I whole heartedly support their right to be themselves and live their truth. I don’t think that makes me a bad person but without a doubt there will be those here who declare I’m a worthless troll which doesn’t help me nor those in the Trans community. If 7 players refused to wear pride colors, I’d imagine there were likely 3 or 4 times that many players who didn’t want to wear pride colors but felt pressured to don the colors. I’d prefer to see everyone be comfortable with demonstrating their support for any cause and not be cancelled if they choose to quietly not show support. There simply is no reason for anyone to demonstrate hate towards someone who doesn’t show support so long as they don’t show hatred either.
dbmcvey
A player is choosing to do this. No one is being forced. In fact, the opposite is happening.
Fahd
If you’re using the slogan, hockey is for everyone, to imply that you are/want to be inclusive and embrace all your fans, then it is rather hypocritical to ban Pride tape and Pride jerseys. It’s really bad public relations,, especially when you’ve just last year landed the major support of TNT to get hockey back on mainstream television. I’ll be interested to see how this topic is handled in TNT’s coverage.
Sports figures have a disproportionate influence – what they say and think about social issues is given a lot of weight by their fans. As they say in the NBA, ‘don’t tell me “Just play the game”, I’m not a slave — I’m a rich athlete.” I don’t think the NHL commission is going to be able to suppress the social activism of those who want to go in that direction for long.
Also, the NBA and NFL have handled these issues in a way which hasn’t been disruptive to the game — NFL players may have “peace and love” type messages on their helmets, for example.
The NHL players need to focus on building a stronger player association so that they can be more involved in policy decisions (see NBA, after a long struggle). Let’s see how hockey back on mainstream TV affects things over time.
Baron Wiseman
@Fahd
“Sports figures have a disproportionate influence – what they say and think about social issues is given a lot of weight by their fans.”
That might have once been true, but not any more. Colin Kaepernick and Megan Rapinoe are the most vocal about social issues today. They are also the two most despised male and female athletes in sports.
charlietex
While you idiots on the right worship Aaron Rogers. Again we don’t care about your right wing bs.
Baron Wiseman
@charlietex
…said the diversity lover.
dbmcvey
I think it’s fine to not include bigotry, racism and homophobia in what we support.
frapachino
If you allow one you need to allow all. I think some radicals heads would explode if someone wore a Trump flag. And no that is NOT an endorsement of Trump but I understand some people who need an enemy in life will say I am to make themselves feel morally superior.
dbmcvey
There’s a Trump flag?
dbmcvey
I would be less concerned about a nonexistent Trump flag and more concerned over a NAZI flag or a Confederate flag. Those flags are for people who actually want to kill various groups of human beings.
Jaesly
@Baron Wiseman, Megan Rapino and Colin Kaepernick are only despised by haters like you. And before you accuse me that I am intolerant, I am proud to be intolerant of bigotry and those intolerant of views that are against yours.
Kangol2
Thank you about Rapinoe and Kaepernick. They’re despised by the right-wing woke crowd, which thankfully is a subset of the broader US and sports-watching public.
Baron Wiseman
@Kangol2
Tell that to the Bud Light folks.
732Gary
I am a huge hockey fan. I have multiple purchased tickets for this season. I am also gay.
I am now selling all of my tickets. This ban is to placate the few loudmouthed bigots and those who have the cash to alter league decisions. It always goes that way.
This time, Im not giving this league any more money.
Even more disgusting are players who claim to be allies and supporters but say they wont go against the ban because they “dont want to get into trouble.”
I guess being an ally is only okay when its convenient, not when things get tough. Pathetic.
This isnt pandering or virtue signaling. For far too long the LGBTQ community members have been ridiculed and pariahs in organized sports. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Im putting my money where my mouth is and not giving ANY money to a bigoted and homophobe influenced group.
Full stop.
dbmcvey
If the virtue signaling is giving support to our community I’m okay with it.
dwick
make sure you let your team know this-let them know they’re losing money because of their bigotry
732Gary
I have actually sent a certified letter to the 2 teams I support here. I was crystal clear why I am taking my money back (well, reselling the tix I have).
I told them that it is important where and with whom I spend my money, and that I will not give money to any group that bows to bigots, homophobes, and hate mongers.
I wonder if they will respond or even pay attention to this one man speaking out….maybe. Maybe not.
But I know that I am sleeping better knowing that I am not giving my money to a group that touts ally-ship but doesnt do shit for the LGBTQ communtiy when the going gets tough.
cheks
Yeah, people are acting like the league was forcing them to attend a leatherman sex party on their time off. It’s absurd. They weren’t “forced” to wear anything but those who actively chose not to wear pride jerseys (that the league/tram provided for them) were asked why. And they didn’t like having to actually stand up for what they believed and face consequences if they had bigoted views.
Their jersey is their WORK uniform. Honestly, they should just wear it and if bigots ask “why do you support this” they should just say “I’m just wearing the uniform provided by my employer”
At my work they hand out ribbons for everything. Autism awareness, breast cancer awareness, they did Live Strong bands for testicular and prostate cancer awareness, and yes pride stuff too.
It’s free, and you don’t HAVE to wear it, but since you’re at work, you kinda do it anyway. Most large companies spend a ton of money supporting Republicans anyway because they want to keep corporate taxes and regulations at the bare minimum to maximize their profits. So, the support for these causes are all lip service anyway.