Superstar Connor McDavid took a strong stand against the refusal of rainbow jerseys. Aleksander Barkov couldn’t do the same, writes Tommi Seppälä.
Pride events promoting equality for sexual and gender minorities have become an embarrassing topic for the hockey league NHL.
Although the vast majority of the NHL community of about a thousand people openly welcomes all kinds of diversity, a few intermediate moves have watered down the long-term work.
The teams have used Pride jerseys in the warm-ups of their Pride match events. However, the New York Rangers and Islanders, as well as Minnesota and Chicago, have left the jerseys in the booth.
Of the players of Philadelphia Ivan Provorovof San Jose James Reimer and Florida Eric and Marc Staal have refused to put on a rainbow-colored warm-up shirt.
All of the players have appealed to religion. Provorov is Russian Orthodox and other Christians.
Appealing to religion is cheap and inelegant, even though everyone has the right to their own opinion. It is difficult to understand the income angle, where minorities are discriminated against under the guise of religion. The withdrawal of players from the event undoubtedly sends such a message.
It is also strange that, for example, Eric Staal still wore a rainbow shirt in Montreal 2021, but two years later his religion prevented him from doing so.
To the media, Staal lied with bright eyes that he has never worn a Pride warm-up shirt. At the same time, pictures of the Montreal match circulated on social media.
The clubs have expressed their concern for the clubs’ Russian players. In Russia, spreading all kinds of “homosexual propaganda” is prohibited by law, and these laws were further tightened at the end of the year.
On the other hand, the deputy commissioner of the NHL Bill Daly messaged The Athletic earlier this week, that the league is not aware of any kind of threat to the Russians (you will switch to another service).
Heavy words from McDavid
Instead of the league leadership, the players have stepped forward.
Edmonton will organize its own Pride-themed match early on Sunday Finnish time. Especially for the biggest star in the sport Connor McDavid’s straightforward and clear statement could be the Canadian player’s “most important goal” in the current season.
– I think we were the first to use rainbow tapes on clubs. We in Edmonton truly believe that hockey belongs to everyone and strongly support the Pride event. I feel very strongly that the hockey community must be inclusive and openly include everyone, McDavid said.
This was strong leadership at a time when the ranks of the players are cracking over a truly important theme.
An even stronger position was taken by McDavid’s teammate Zach Hyman, who stated that he disagrees with players refusing rainbow jerseys (you will go to another service).
– It’s about everyone’s own opinions, but I disagree with them. It’s really important to make everyone feel welcome, regardless of ethnic background, sexual orientation or skin color, Hyman stated.
– The fact that we, as players, tape our rackets with rainbow colors is the least we can do.
The ball fell from Barkov
An exemplary outcome of the Staal brothers’ refusal was also seen in Florida. Panthers pier Matthew Tkachuk made his own point of view known after the match.
– I think this is the best game in the world and everyone is welcome in our dressing room. Events like this are always about bringing everyone into this game. I have always enjoyed and appreciated these games, Tkachuk emphasized.
The head coach Paul Maurice and Alexander Barkov did not take advantage of the opportunity.
According to Maurice, the story of the Pride event was not built around Staalie, but around others who celebrated the event.
Sure, the vast majority of the NHL community welcomes all kinds of diversity, but that’s exactly why the blunt message of individual players seems exceptionally powerful.
Barkov stated according to the Miami Herald (you will be transferred to another service) The Staal brothers – and the organization – handled the situation very well.
No, the Staals really didn’t handle the situation well.
Everyone has freedom of opinion and speech, but the principles of Christianity do not include discriminating against minorities on the basis of ethnic background or, for example, sexual orientation.
Ice hockey belongs to everyone.
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