Pride Night Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Gary Bettman: NHL may reconsider Pride Night celebrations

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Mar 29, 2023 6:11 PM ET

Few things in the NHL have been as polarizing during the current campaign as team Pride Nights.

The divisive response -- several players have refused to wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys -- has been so noticeable that league commissioner Gary Bettman recently told CTV News in Ottawa that the NHL may have to reconsider the celebrations during the summer months.

“This is the first time we’ve experienced (boycotts of Pride Night celebrations),” Bettman said. “And I think it’s something that we’re going to have to evaluate in the offseason.”

After Provorov boycotted Pride Night, the NHL said: "Players are free to decide which initiatives to support and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social issues."

So this is another team that has taken that decision away from the majority of its players. https://t.co/KSqucSo4RG
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 22, 2023

Many notable players -- including Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, Florida Panthers skaters Eric and Marc Staal and San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer -- have protested wearing pre-game warmup jerseys which they say endorse a lifestyle contradictory to their religious beliefs.

The Chicago Blackhawks elected not to wear their Pride-themed warmup jerseys in any capacity last week, citing concern for some of their Russian players or players with Russian connections. The team did not want to expose those players to possible legal repercussions stemming from Russia's recently passed anti-LGBTQ legislation.

“This is one issue where players for a variety of reasons may not feel comfortable wearing the uniform as a form of endorsement,” Bettman noted.

He added that the message behind the jerseys is "really being pushed to the side for what is a handful of players basically have made personal decisions, and you have to respect that as well."

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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