Reluctantly, goalkeeper Marc-André Fleury appears to be at the center of controversy for wanting to wear a mask in honor of First Nations people on Friday.
The Quebecer planned to use the kit on the sidelines of the game against the Colorado Avalanche to mark a special Minnesota Wild evening highlighting Indigenous heritage. Additionally, Number 29 was proud to wear the mask designed by Cole Redhorse Taylor, an artist from the Prairie Island community. In addition, the club highlighted the object in a promotional text published on its official website about the event.
• Also read: Andy Moog has cancer
• Also read: WATCH: He attempts a check…and hits a wall
• Also read: Corey Crawford will be the Wildcats’ first Immortal
The companies and stakeholders involved are obviously happy with this initiative, but one organization wouldn’t share that enthusiasm: the National Hockey League (NHL). This would have warned Fleury and his team that there would be penalties if the veteran implemented his idea. And he won’t back down, according to his agent Allan Walsh.
“Marc-André Fleury stated that he definitely planned to wear the mask and pay the fine. The NHL then threatened the Wild with additional financial sanctions,” he said on his X account.
Marc-Andre Fleury stated that he planned to wear the mask anyway and pay the fine. The NHL then threatened the Wild organization with a larger fine. https://t.co/iVmCqyQR2H
– Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) November 24, 2023
“As part of the First Nations Heritage Evening and as a tribute to his wife [dont la famille est d’origine abénakise et mi’kmaw]Marc-André Fleury had a customized mask. […] Quotes from his father and the names of his children are engraved there. “He’s disappointed that the NHL told him he can’t even wear it during the warm-up session,” added Michael Russo, reporter at The Athletic.
However, the 38-year-old athlete has already worn head protection in honor of First Nations, most notably in November 2021 when he played for the Chicago Blackhawks. However, as many have observed in recent months, the Bettman scene is much more cautious when it comes to socio-political issues that could cause controversy. During the offseason, he scrapped the gear that is typically displayed at themed nights such as those on black history and the LGBTQ+ cause.