NHL commissioner Gary Bettman probably thought he was appeasing the league’s players when he announced teams will no longer wear themed jerseys for Pride Nights.
But as it turns out, the commish was wrong.
Because two of the NHL’s biggest stars, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, are now speaking out against the league’s new speciality jersey ban.
Last season, multiple players across the league refused to wear rainbow-themed warmup jerseys. Some teams, such as the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild, scrapped the uniforms altogether.
However, it’s worth noting the vast majority of NHL players did opt into Pride celebrations. Stamkos told reporters it’s a shame the few dissenters grabbed all of the headlines, and are now apparently dictating league policy.
“It was 98 percent or 99 percent of other players that wore the jersey and enjoyed wearing it and were proud wearing it, whatever jersey it was, whether it was the Pride, the military night, the cancer nights,” he said.
“The story shouldn’t be about the guy that didn’t wear it, the one guy or the two guys. I understand that’s what gets the clicks and that’s what gets the views, but the word ‘distraction’ gets thrown around.”
He added, “I don’t think it had to have been a distraction. It could have been a non-issue while focusing on the good that was coming out of those nights.”
Stamkos, a seven-time All-Star, struck a similar note early this year when he commented on Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov’s decision to not wear the Pride uni (Provorov was the first NHL player who refused).
“The story shouldn’t be on the one player who didn’t wear [the jersey],” he said.
Even as appreciated as Stamkos is here, he’s still probably underappreciated. We’re all so damn lucky to have had him as our captain and in Tampa for all this time.
— Snook⚡🏴☠️☀️ (@SnookTB) June 27, 2023
This is why he’s the captain among captains!
— Derek Caldwell (@Dee_Em_See) June 27, 2023
Complete class act. Big fan of stammer. Thoughtful guy, hardest worker in the league, and a good person
— Eddy Bigelow (@eddybigelow) June 27, 2023
Stamkos is the best example of what a leader should be, going to miss when he hangs the skates up.
— Jay ⚡️ (@Letsgobolts92) June 27, 2023
We don’t deserve this man. ⚡️💙
— Rachael (@rdeitch55) June 27, 2023
While his larger point is correct, it’s understandable why the media fixated on the few players who didn’t publicly support Pride, and were enabled by their teams. Those who refused to wear the jerseys sullied the meaning of their team’s Pride Nights, which are supposed to be about promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity at the rink.
McDavid, for his part, said the Oilers will always support LGBTQ+ people and marginalized communities.
“It’s disappointing to see,” he said to reporters about the new uniform policy. “It’s not my call, but obviously it’s disappointing.”
The Oilers were the first NHL team to use rainbow tape on their sticks, and were also one of the first clubs to embrace Pride Nights. Back in 2014, then-captain Andrew Ference marched in Edmonton’s Pride parade wearing his Oilers jersey–a strong statement given the team’s stature in the city.
Last summer, the Oilers played in the inaugural Pride Cup, which coincides with Edmonton’s Pride celebrations.
“I certainly can’t speak for every organization,“ said McDavid. “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.”
Bettman’s tone-deafness when it comes to this issue shouldn’t be surprising. Earlier this year, he defended the players who didn’t wear Pride jerseys, saying the onus falls on LGBTQ+ people to accept different viewpoints.
“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,” he said, via The Athletic. “But we also have to respect individual choice. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences.”
🙄🙄🙄
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred struck a similar tone this month, when he revealed the league discouraged teams from placing Pride logos on their uniforms.
For Bettman and Manfred, Pride Month is apparently about protecting the homophobes, LGBTQ+ people and allies be damned.
What a shame.
Bettman and Manfred ought to take a look at how the Chicago White Sox marked Pride this year, by honoring LGBTQ+ vets and celebrating their queer fans. They might just learn a thing or two.
wikidBSTN
NHL commissioner – see LA Dodgers for a lesson on having both a spine and integrity.
Diplomat
Str8 males who call themselves trans women going in real women’s showers bathrooms locker rooms and sports teams, basically sexual predators sometimes aroused, are the reason LGBs are losing ground right and left. Look no further than the T in LGBT to understand why the public is turning their backs on us. We support these psychos when we let this bs ride all over our flag without speaking up. They have an ongoing war with half the population called women and the men who support them. Knock the T off LGBT. We cannot support these vile behaviors. Time to get dems like myself and our LGB priorities aligned with rational thought. It’s time for a big LGB board meeting.
dario717
Some people will do anything but get therapy.
Neoprene
I’d be happy if they knocked the A off. Exactly who decides these things? The two spirit thing is stupid, too, and adding brown and black to the Pride flag when there wasn’t any white on it is dumb as well.
The Diplomat is correct regarding the politics. The trans issue is why DeSantis may likely be our next Prez and why the Supreme Court will also likely move even further right when the next justice croaks or retires. Hopefully that will happen while TripNFall is still in the White House.
Openminded
Dip, you sound like the affluent people on the lifeboats from Titanic who said, “F*ck those people in the water, I’m good here in this boat, they’re on their own”.
I’m not saying the “T” sector hasn’t caused some big waves, but if nobody had got on the LGB’s side decades ago, none of this community would be where it is today and it’s not in a bad place. This latest push against LGBT is the final temper tantrum from those few who refuse to accept this community. The haters will standup and crow for a moment, but ultimately they will be put in their place and the LGBT community will finally settle into it’s rightful place alongside all the other “normal” people. Something tells me you don’t really give a damn about anybody but the “G” group.
[email protected]
Well you must obviously not be educated. Transgender people are real, there are no perfect human in any sex. The fact that you are in such denial you should be asking yourself why. You need to pay attention to the news. There are way more actual real straight males cisgender males that are abusing women’s rights our rights versus any transgender women or transgender men. You’re uneducated and denial though is epic with the far right people discriminating people. Congratulations you’ve been labeled.
[email protected]
You obviously haven’t been paying attention. That or your uneducation is that epic. First off transgenders are most likely lesbian gay or bisexual. Second there are no transgender women or transgender men violating anyone’s rights and any bathrooms. You need to check the local and the statistics news and who’s really violating women’s rights. That would be the far right hateful uneducated discriminating minority of people. Meaning you most likely. There are more white cisgender men violating and sexually assaulting raping us women than any transgenders. But you’re uneducated lying is is truly epic. Fall in line with the rest of the hateful lying discriminating politicians Republicans evangelicals. Making post like you did You’ve just been labeled. Congratulations….
Mister P
I’m not sure why the almost non existent issue of male predators in female bathrooms and locker rooms is so prevalent but it sure rules up the right wing nuts.
The LGBT+ is rightfully inclusive and no one should be excluded over perceived threats.
[email protected]
Very well put.
Thad
I’ve never forgiven Gary Bettman for 2004-2005. I expect nothing good from him, ever.
I’m so glad to learn of the support of Steven Stamkos and Connor McDavid. They make me feel seen and appreciated for the big gay hockey fan I am.
The 2023-2024 NHL schedule has just been released. I am considering going to only Tampa Bay and Edmonton games, and maybe Philadelphia since they traded away Ivan Provorov, who started this debacle with his bigotry.
[email protected]
Sounds like Gary jumped on the bandwagon of the right side discriminating hateful minority of Americans. The NHL the 99% will prevail and they will show positive and non-discriminating non hateful support for all. You see more and more of the minority hateful discriminating right side getting themselves educated and supporting LGBTQ more and more everyday. It just takes time for the light to shine on the hate and discrimination.