NHL bans Pride warm-up jerseys — and all specialty jerseys — calling them a 'distraction.' Pro-LGBTQ group is not happy.

The National Hockey League banned Pride warm-up jerseys for players — and all specialty jerseys. As a result, a pro-LGBTQIA+ group is not happy.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday that the use of specialty warm-up jerseys has "become a distraction," ESPN reported.

"I've suggested that it would be appropriate for clubs not to change their jerseys in warm-ups because it's become a distraction and taking away from the fact that all of our clubs in some form or another host nights in honor of various groups or causes," Bettman said in an interview with Sportsnet after an NHL board of governors meeting in New York, ESPN added. "And we rather them continue to get the appropriate attention that they deserve and not be a distraction."

The board of governors agreed with Bettman, ESPN also said.

How did this all start?

The subject of NHL players wearing Pride colors on their warm-up jerseys has become a major issue this season, beginning with then-Philadelphia Flyers player Ivan Provorov, who cited his Russian Orthodox faith for refusing to skate before a Pride Night game in January since his teammates were wearing LBGTQ colors.

That got under the skin of at least two sports journalists.

E.J. Hradek, senior reporter for the NHL Network, suggested Provorov should return to Russia and even fight Ukraine in the wake of his controversial decision.

“If this is that much of a problem for him to maybe assimilate into his group of teammates and in the community and here in this country, that’s okay — listen, you can feel any way you want. But the beauty is, if it bothers you that much, there’s always a chance to leave. Go back where you feel more comfortable," Hradek said. "I understand there’s a conflict of sorts going on over there; maybe get involved.”

The author of the ESPN story about Provorov's choice — Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer for the sports network — ripped Provorov on Twitter. More than once, in fact. (As you might expect, Wyshynski wasn't thrilled about the NHL's decision this week, either.)

More players — and even teams — followed suit:

• Also in January, the New York Rangers skipped wearing their Pride Night warm-up jerseys.
• In March, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer refused to wear a pride-themed warm-up jersey because of his Christian faith. Following suit with the Provorov dust-up, a hockey writer claimed Reimer "looked like a clown" while another another hockey writer blasted Reimer as "absolutely a homophobe."
• Also in March, the Minnesota Wild opted out of wearing Pride colors on their warm-up jerseys, which had Yahoo Sports Canada asking if "the league’s 'Hockey Is for Everyone' initiative is anything more than empty words."
• That same month, the Chicago Blackhawks declined to wear Pride-themed jerseys for the 2023 season, and brothers Marc and Eric Staal of the Florida Panthers elected not to wear Pride Night warm-up jerseys — like Provorov and Reimer, citing their Christian faith.

All of that got the attention of NHL Commissioner Bettman in March, and he also said then it was becoming a "distraction," noting in an interview that "the substance of what our teams and we have been doing and stand for is really being pushed to the side for what is a handful of players basically [having] made personal decisions, and you have to respect that as well."

Pro-LGBTQ group reacts to NHL ban

ESPN said You Can Play, which has worked with sports and leagues on LGBTQ inclusion, wasn't happy about the specialty night jersey ban.

"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, according to ESPN. "The work to make locker rooms, board rooms and arenas safer, more diverse, and more inclusive needs to be ongoing and purposeful, and we will continue to work with our partners at the NHL, including individual teams, players, agents and the NHLPA to ensure this critical work continues."

Anything else?

Bettman said teams still can have specialty nights such as Pride Night, Black History Night, Military Appreciation Night, and Hockey Fights Cancer, ESPN reported, adding that Bettman also said teams still can create and sell specialty jerseys for various charities.

"Players who choose to model them can do that," Bettman added, according to the sports network. "It's really just the question of what's on the ice."

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