NHL Cracks Down On-Ice Theme Night Gear.
In a recent announcement, the National Hockey League (NHL) has introduced a comprehensive ban on on-ice theme night gear. This directive prohibits clubs from allowing players to don rainbow sweaters or employ multicolored tape on their sticks during Pride Night events.
Officials confirmed this decision on Tuesday, addressing concerns surrounding the 2022-23 season when some players, such as Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov and then-San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer, declined to participate in their clubs’ Pride Night celebrations.
This groundbreaking move, initially reported by the LGBTQ news site Outsports, has sparked significant controversy, with Outsports describing it as “the most stifling, anti-LGBTQ policy any pro sports league in North America has ever issued.”
The NHL and the players’ union have yet to respond to messages seeking comment, as representatives for both entities remain silent on this matter.
Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly has confirmed that the league distributed a memo to all 32 clubs with updated guidance. This memo explicitly prohibits any on-ice uniforms or gear used in warm-ups from featuring theme night celebrations. Kurt Weaver, the chief operations officer of the You Can Play Project, a partner of the NHL and its “Hockey Is for Everyone” campaign, expressed his concerns over the leaguewide memo. Weaver stated that teams will be prohibited from having players wear Pride sweaters or utilize rainbow tape on their sticks, a decision that has raised eyebrows.
Weaver emphasized the significance of visible representations, noting that these players are seen as heroes who stand up for their beliefs. Removing these symbols from the ice presents a significant challenge. He praised the NHL, teams, and players for their years of efforts to combat homophobia but expressed disappointment in the recent league memo, calling it a “bitter pill to swallow.” Despite this decision, he remained optimistic about the positive work being done within the hockey community.
Jeff McLean, a spokesperson for Pride Tape, expressed extreme disappointment with the NHL’s decision to ban its product from on-ice activities this season. The company, however, looks forward to brighter days ahead and hopes that the league and its teams will recommit to combating homophobia, an issue that many players have passionately advocated for.
The recent NHL communication to clubs also leaves room for players to object to being in “close proximity” to people or groups associated with causes they may not support, according to Outsports. The league stressed that players should not be put in a position where they appear to demonstrate personal support for any Special Initiatives, such as proximity to individuals visibly associated with such causes.
This potential “proximity” policy has raised questions and concerns within the league. Lindsay Imber, the organist for the Anaheim Ducks, pondered whether she could theoretically be removed from her position at the Honda Center due to gender identity issues. Imber pointed out the lack of representation at the executive level as a contributing factor to the formulation of policies that may be exclusionary.
As the 2023-24 NHL regular season kicks off, it does so amidst this backdrop of controversy and change. The Nashville Predators are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Chicago Blackhawks will go on the road to play the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Seattle Kraken will watch as the Stanley Cup-champion Golden Knights raise a championship banner in Las Vegas. The NHL community watches with bated breath as the league navigates these pivotal shifts.
