The National Hockey League’s (NHL) ban on the rainbow-colored Pride ribbon has sparked a wave of consternation online, with some players ridiculing the situation.
Due to the controversy caused last season by the seven hockey players who refused to wear the jersey in support of the LBGTQ+ community during warm-ups, the Bettman circuit decided to rely on special equipment at theme nights organized by the teams to renounce.
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In June, it was the jerseys that suffered, but in a recent memo the NHL clarified that the rainbow ribbon was also banned.
“It’s annoying. “It’s something that has a special place in my heart and that I’m happy to support,” replied Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson in an interview with the TSN network. […] Ribbons are a sensitive subject for some people. I do not understand why. It’s just the pride ribbon or Hockey Fights Cancer, it’s big. We just need to find other ways to support them. It’s something so natural to me that I don’t understand it.”
Flames forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund, also interviewed by journalist Salim Nadim Valji, said they respected the league’s decision but would have liked to continue to support LGBTQ+ rights.
In Toronto, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and defenseman Morgan Rielly assured they would continue their commitment to the Pride movement.
“I want the players to have the right to do more and be more involved. “I will continue to be committed to this community and offer my support to these communities and groups that want and need it,” Rielly began Tuesday, according to the Sportsnet network.