NHL to ban cause-based jerseys next season
The NHL will not allow teams to wear “charity-based” jerseys next season, the league confirmed Thursday.
Pride jerseys became a league hot button issue last season after several players refused to wear them during warm-ups.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov was the first to make that decision, citing his Russian Orthodox beliefs.
Some Russian players did not wear the jerseys due to safety concerns to go home. In December, Russia amended its anti-gay laws making it “illegal to spread ‘propaganda’ about ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ in all media, including social media, advertisements and movies,” the statement said. The New York Times.
However, Russians such as Evgeni Malkin of Pittsburgh and Sergei Bobrovsky of Florida did wear the jerseys.
Three teams – the Minnesota Wild, the New York Rangers and the Chicago NHL team – canceled their Pride Night warmups, but held other events.
LOOK | A handful of NHLers object to wearing Pride-themed jerseys:
Canadian NHL players Mark and Eric Staal are the latest to join a handful of others refusing to wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community. It has sparked a debate about inclusiveness and personal freedom in pro hockey.
