NHL bans all special jerseys after rainbow uniform row
By: Matt Keeley
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The National Hockey League issued a ban this week on specialty jerseys—including special rainbow ones for LGBTQ Pride Nights–after some players objected to wearing them.
Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, said that the jerseys had “become a distraction,” according to LGBTQ Nation .
“All of our clubs host nights in honor of various groups or causes, and we’d rather they continue to get the appropriate attention they deserve and not be a distraction,” Bettman said.
He confirmed that Pride nights, as well as other theme nights, would still happen. The difference is that players will wear their standard jerseys during the games. Similarly, teams can make themed jerseys to sell, but players can’t wear them on the ice.
Before the new rule, theme nights—including nights for military appreciation as well as special anti-cancer events—often had players wearing special jerseys. Similar to how Pride jerseys are festooned with rainbows, military appreciation jerseys are usually in military drab with camouflage print. Lavender jerseys were worn for the Hockey Fights Cancer nights.
The news about the hockey jerseys comes a week after Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred advised teams to not wear Pride-themed uniforms because it made some players “uncomfortable.”
“We have told teams, in terms of actual uniforms, hats, bases that we don’t think putting logos on them is a good idea just because of the desire to protect players: not putting them in a position of doing something that may make them uncomfortable because of their personal views,” Manfred said.
This year, a few NHL players have refused to wear the Pride jerseys. This January, Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers said wearing one would be against his religious beliefs. Two months later, San Jose Shark James Reimer said the same thing.
In March, the Chicago Blackhawks said they wouldn’t wear Pride jerseys at all, blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ban on LGBTQ “propaganda.” The Blackhawks said they wanted to protect their Russian players.
Though all specialty jerseys are banned, it does not appear that any players objected to any of the other promotions.
The decision has been panned by many. You Can Play , a group promoting inclusivity in professional sports, said that prior to this decision the NHL was “a leader among major sporting organizations” in terms of “advancing visibility and acceptance” of the queer community.
“Today’s decision means that the over 95 percent of players who chose to wear a Pride jersey to support the community will now not get an opportunity to do so,” the organization said in a statement.
Canadian LGBTQ activist Fae Johnstone shared her disappointment on Twitter.
“When I was growing up as a closeted queer kid who loved hockey, it would’ve made my day to see teams wearing Pride jerseys. Would’ve sent a powerful message to my teammates too. Shame on the NHL Board of Governors for caving to bigotry,” she wrote .
Sports agent Allan Walsh also had harsh words for the NHL.
“The NHL’s decision to ban players from wearing specialty jerseys in pre-game warms up is gutless. Pride Night, Military Appreciation, Hockey Fights Cancer, Black History. 99% of players had no issues wearing a specialty jersey. Typical NHL, going 60 Miles per hour in reverse,” he said
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Careful what you wish for...
Meh.
The vast majority of sports teams play in two different jerseys, home and away.
That's been the case for a century, and we never seemed to notice.
I thought that was only football. Not a big sports fan myself.
Gotta remember that 99% of sports teams are not professional, and the percentage of teams who can even afford specialty jerseys at all is exceedingly small.
It seem sport franchises and management are beginning to get the message. Displays that are offensive are a distraction
Yep, cancer awareness, military appreciation...
NHL = Neanderthal Hockey League. I guess it’s appropriate they play on ice because these snowflakes are too insecure to wear a little rainbow or pink.
Yeah, what a bunch of pussies. You should definitely say that if you ever meet an NHL player in person.
I mean, what are they afraid of?
It's not like their teammates have family that might be persecuted back home by a mad tyrant or anything.
Oh......wait......
OMG that’s juvenile. I shouldn’t say anything negative about a hockey player on the internet because he might beat me up? Is that seriously your take? Have you been to sporting event in person and heard the shit fans shout at players?
Is that how you live your life? Maybe you be careful how you talk to me. I might be a very dangerous man. How silly!
And I never used the p-word, but I’m not surprised you chose to exaggerate my words to support your comedic response.
It seemed an appropriate response to the declaration that they must be "insecure".
Is that what I said? It doesn't seem like that's what I said. Let me check...
Nope. Definitely not what I said. Maybe you should read it again.
I live my life refraining from declaring people to be insecure or possessed of some other character flaw simply because they don't want to do something to support a cause they have no reason to care about.
You said snowflakes, which is certainly synonymous.
Hopefully, now you know better.
It’s “certainly synonymous.”
I asked you a question and gave you the opportunity to clarify your remarks. Since you decided on the usual BS instead, it’s clear I got you right the first time.
Love to see the tolerance and acceptance of other views by the left as they set their hair on fire over this.
What hair on fire? The players got what they wanted and a little more.
Now there is no deviation at all...
Where is the tolerance and acceptance from hockey players who refuse to wear the special jerseys?
Why do they need to wear a special shirt to be tolerant?
So ... being tolerant is not enough, there is a wardrobe requirement? Do we all have to wear tolerance uniforms now? Like if we don't wear pink in October are we going to be accused of "defending breast cancer" or something?
It seems like "tolerant" used to include simply minding your own business and not giving a fuck. Is that not allowed anymore?
If they can’t tolerate wearing the shirt, they clearly aren’t that tolerant. I notice you just left out “acceptance,” so at least we agree there’s none of that.
Yeah, imagine that. You work for someone else and there’s a wardrobe requirement. Some days the uniform is a little different than on the usual days. Never heard of that concept, eh?
Depends. Are we talking about a private individual picking out ordinary clothes for the day? Where you just choose blue or pink because it’s what you feel like wearing? In that case, no.
Are you part of a group that is making an organized effort to show support to fellow human beings on a specific issue? And then in the face of that, you go out of your way to say you won’t participate, when you normally do what the rest of the group does? Then yeah, maybe.
That’s called context. It matters.
No one is telling telling hockey players what to wear on their day off.
Why should they be forced to wear something that 1. Isn't part of their normal uniform. 2. Something they don't support?
The uniform is whatever management says it is. They aren’t forced to wear it. They’re free to quit.
Much like anyone who criticizes or tries to force someone to wear a shirt that promotes something they don't support isn't tolerant either.
I'm sure if the NHL sponsored "traditional religious belief" night and teams sweaters were changed to include messaging along the lines of "Marriage is between a man and a woman" we'd be hearing the exacty same message, that players should quit if they don't like it and only intolerant people would refuse to wear the altered sweaters.
You need to think about the difference between including and excluding people.
And you contradict yourself right there. Glaring example of the tolerance and acceptance we've come to see from the left in their push for the woke garbage.
4.2.4 surely isn't in the including column.
I’ve seen better arguments made with refrigerator magnets.
[[using the term is no longer allowed]]
difference between including and excluding people.
Both situations are equally inclusive. Celebrating traditional religions is open to everyone.
exactly what term and where was this announcement made.
Ask Perrie.
So the rest of my comment should stand. Just not those 2 words.
At least they banned all specialty jerseys and not just the pride ones. That's at least equitable
Ban one, ban them all. Haha
I actually don't mind this decision. No specialty uniforms at all.
totally agree
who cares. most players don't have a lot of teeth left to lose...
I actually think it's a great idea, and that the NHL has adopted a pretty thoughtful position on all of it.
Specialty jerseys will still be available as fanwear, and special interest nights or events will still take place.
Whether it's military appreciation, gay pride, cancer awareness or whatever... that is all stuff for off the field/court/ice and this keeps it there.
Players who want to support whatever cause they feel strongly about can continue to do so off the ice, but they're not demanding that players support/denounce causes that could put their loved ones in danger back home.
I actually agree. Keep politics or causes off the field (or ice). It is a game, not a megaphone for specific things.
People want to be entertained and enjoy a game. Keep it neutral.
If only it were that simple.
It's an issue of player safety given the fanatical response to the few players who refused to participate in the corporate messaging. No doubt the union got involved.
It has nothing to do with players not wanting to be "woke". The players themselves were uncomfortable wearing the jerseys. It had nothing to do with corporate messaging.
You see boogeymen around every corner, don't you?
Lol. As if Manfred's statement isn't completely consistent with mine.
e players themselves were uncomfortable wearing the jerseys. It had nothing to do with corporate messaging.
This is priceless.
They were uncomfortable with the messaging on the jerseys their corporate employers wanted them to wear. How can you possibly not understand that?
ok you're right
In some cases, it's more than just being "uncomfortable".
The NHL has a disproportionate number of Russian players, and pride apparel doesn't go over well there. Many of those guys will still have family back in the Motherland.
Chicago did the right thing
Player safety? Ok.
Guess what safety is like when you’re LGBTQ+.
I have to wonder if the media did not put a microphone in front of everyone that did not feel comfortable wearing the uniform in order to create a controversy and players could just decide to wear or not wear on an individual basis with no judgement or pressure if this would have ended where it did.
But as long as they can still sell rainbow snow cones at the games all is good.