The NHL faces criticism for reversing the ban on rainbow-coloured Pride tape on hockey sticks while maintaining the ban on themed jerseys supporting causes like Pride, cancer, or the military. This mixed message raises concerns about the league's commitment to inclusion.
Prelude to the Best Sommelier of Canada Contest | SaltWireThe NHL seems to have its hockey knickers in a twist over allowing players to show support for inclusion in the sport.
An organization called You Can Play Too applauded the reversal of the tape ban, saying that it shows that the sport of hockey welcomes and includes everyone in the game. With this, the NHL is sending mixed messages. For someone who identifies as gay, for example, this patchwork of policies doesn’t exactly scream that they are welcome in the sport.
Some players from countries like Russia said that showing support for causes like Pride would compromise their safety when they went home. Russian President Vladimir Putin has passed a law restricting support for LGBTQ+ causes. Those players feared retribution when they returned to Russia. Edmonton Oilers superstar and three-time league MVP Connor McDavid also disagreed with the ban on jerseys and Pride tape.
The ban on jerseys has the look of a league that would rather dodge controversy than show its support for inclusion.
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