Key Points
The NHL sent a memo to teams last week clarifying what players could and could not do as part of theme nights this season, including Pride celebrations that had become a hot-button issue in hockey..
The National Hockey League (NHL) has issued a sweeping ban on on-ice theme night gear, prohibiting players from donning rainbow sweaters or using multicolored tape on sticks during Pride Night and similar events..
This move, which was initially reported by LGBTQ news site Outsports, follows a 2022-23 season where a few players, including Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers and James Reimer of the San Jose Sharks, chose not to participate in their clubs' Pride Night celebrations...
Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to The Associated Press that the league sent a memo to all 32 clubs, outlining updated guidelines that prohibit on-ice uniforms or gear in warm-ups from featuring theme night celebrations...
Jeff McLean, a spokesperson for Pride Tape, voiced disappointment over the ban, hoping that the league and teams would reaffirm their commitment to combating homophobia and promoting the tape as a symbol of inclusivity...
