The National Hockey League banned rainbow pride tape after a mini dispute on the ice last spring. “A handful of players opted out of wearing Pride jerseys last season,” according to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio. This led the NHL to update its uniform policy so teams were not allowed to warm up in themed jerseys. Along with this change, the tape on the sticks the players use is not allowed to be themed or pride colors.
This major change resulted in a lot of backlash toward the NHL. For instance, several news stations revealed that most fans and even players were disappointed in the league and felt they were not being inclusive to all players. For instance, NPR News was able to gain the player’s perspective on the matter. Players’ responses to the ban include: “A surprising and serious setback,” “It’s unfortunate,” “It sucks,” or “I’ll use the tape–if I have to buy it myself, I will.” All of these negative comments about the ban did not affect NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision.
“What happened last year was that the issue of who wanted to wear a particular uniform on a particular night overshadowed everything that our clubs were doing,” Bettman said in an interview with NPR. The NHL’s only reason for this change is it is a distraction to the sport itself.
According to NPR, Luke Prokop, an aspiring NHL and openly gay player, said, “Pride nights are an essential step towards fostering greater acceptance and understanding in hockey.” The pride tape and jerseys are most definitely not a distraction, but rather a sign of support towards the LGBTQ+ athletes.
Even with the ban on pride tape and jerseys, many fans and players spoke about wearing them anyway. According to ESPN, the Pride Tape co-founder, Kristopher Wells, said, “I think the players will find a way to make their own statements… they’re going to continue to find ways to show their support.” ESPN also said players are going to show support with volunteer-themed celebrations off the ice.
According to Russian Machine Never Breaks news, not only is the pride tape showing support for the LGBTQ+ community, but it also helps raise funds for the NHL. “In 2022 alone, the Capitals raised more than $25,000 for DC LGBTQ+ charity SMYAL, coming in large part from the sale of taped sticks,” they said. The NHL is losing profit due to this significant change while also losing many fans and players in the long run.
If players do leave the NHL due to the ban of pride tape, it will make a real difference within the league. According to RMNB news, Jon Merrill, a defenseman from the Minnesota Wild said in regards to wearing pride tape, “Take me off the ice, give me a penalty? Then you look bad as a league.” More players like Merrill are likely to or have stood up against the league. NHL players should be allowed to express their support through pride tape and jerseys on and off the ice.
Elyse Picard can be contacted at
epicard@kscequinox.edu
