Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott became the first player known to use pride tape in defiance of the NHL’s ban during Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at Mullett Arena.
Dermott, 26, wrapped a few strands of the rainbow-colored tape around the top of his stick during the Coyotes’ home opener against the Ducks on Saturday.
The Newmarket, Ontario product logged 17:29 of ice time and took one shot on goal in the Coyotes’ 2–1 win over the Ducks on home ice.
The practice of using pride tape to show solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community has become more widespread in the hockey world, including the NHL, in recent years.
Teams typically hold Pride Nights during the season and have often worn commemorative rainbow warmup jerseys, which are usually auctioned off.
During the offseason, the NHL banned the wearing of all specialty warmup jerseys in a move widely seen as a response to the decisions made by multiple players (including Ivan Provorov and James Reimer) to opt out of wearing their teams’ pride jerseys late in the 2022–23 season.
Later, the NHL also shared a memo with its teams outlining a new policy banning players from using pride tape on their sticks during the 2023–24 season. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly elaborated on the decision in an email to Daily Faceoff earlier this month:
“Game/practice restrictions don’t interfere with players’ ability to support in other settings,” Daly wrote. “In fact, we encourage them to. (We) just don’t want to put other player(s) in a tough spot simply because they don’t choose to join.”
It’s unclear whether the NHL will elect to impose a fine upon Dermott or the Coyotes organization for circumventing the ban, although longtime NHL executive and LGBTQ+ rights supporter Brian Burke has offered to cover any fines incurred around the league for violations of the policy.
Dermott is playing in his first season with the Coyotes after signing with the team in July as an unrestricted free agent. He’s skated in 284 career NHL games over parts of seven seasons with the Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
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