The NHL has banned teams from using custom jerseys for on-ice activities such as practices and warm-ups, or from modifying gear such as pride tape.
The Vancouver Canucks will not wear special jerseys on the ice for the 2023-24 season, per NHL ruling.
This means no need for indigenous celebration jerseys or Diwali jerseys. No Chinese New Year jerseys, hockey fight gun jerseys, or military appreciation jerseys. And of course, that means not wearing a Pride Knight jersey.
The latter became a major issue last season when several players, including the Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, refused to wear Pride Knight jerseys during warm-ups with the rest of the team.
In response to these actions by some players, the NHL has opted to eliminate all custom warm-up jerseys. In a memo sent to teams last week, the NHL clarified that this means all on-ice activities, including practices, and includes not only custom jerseys but also any modifications to gear.
That means Pride Tape, the rainbow-colored hockey tape that many teams have used to warm up as part of their Pride Night celebrations. Notably, Pride tape is not mandated by any team, and many players refuse to use tape on their sticks. But now players are not even allowed to use Pride tape voluntarily.
Some players Used pride tape during the match To show his support for the LGBTQ community, including former Canuck Travis Dermott, he typically uses several inches of pride tape on the handles of all his sticks.
Several players across the NHL have expressed disapproval of this blanket policy. Including Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.
“This organization is proud and will always support it.”
As for the Canucks, general manager Patrick Albin said they intend to abide by the NHL’s ruling.
“Such decisions are what we follow the NHL and what they recommend,” Allbin said. “I think this organization has done a lot of good things in the community…We’re going to continue to do that. But we’re definitely following the rules of the league and what the league is directing us to do. I will comply.”
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes voiced his support for the Pride Knights last season and made it clear that even though on-ice support is prohibited this season, the team will continue to support the Pride Knights off the ice.
“I preached in this locker room last year that this organization will always support it with pride,” Hughes said. “It starts at the top of the organization, and below that is the Aquilini family. Whether we’re wearing the tape or wearing the jersey, that’s something we always support. We don’t do anything on the ice. Maybe not, but we’re going to do things off the ice to support that.”
Free agent signing Ian Cole is the Canucks’ union representative in the NHLPA; He spoke to Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston. He said the Canucks’ support of Pride Nights and other community activities was a big reason he signed with Vancouver.
“I know the reputation of this organization,” Cole said. “That was a really great selling point of this organization when I came here. How you approach these things…I think that’s really important.”
Cole was clearly unhappy with the NHL’s decision to ban specialty jerseys and Pride tape, but said there was little he or other players could do.
“I think the NHL wants there to be no controversy, but it inevitably brought controversy to them,” Cole said. “Unfortunately, they’re the iron fist there and what they say…they make the rules. Unfortunately, we as employees have a lot of say in that.” But I really respect and like what the Vancouver Canucks have done.”
You Can Play Project and Pride Tape criticize NHL policy
The makers of Pride Tape issued a statement in response to the ban.
“The Pride Tape team is extremely disappointed in the NHL’s decision to remove Pride Tape from the league’s on-ice activities,” the statement read. “We hope our league, and our teams, will recommit to this important symbol in the fight against homophobia.”
The You Can Play Project similarly released a statement calling for this policy from the NHL.
“It is now clear that the NHL has retreated from its longstanding commitment to inclusion and continues to unravel all of its once industry-leading efforts regarding 2SLGBTQ+ affiliation,” You Can Play said. All the progress we have made and the relationships established within our communities are at risk. ”
Matt Larkin from The Daily Face Off asked NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. Why did the NHL ban players from choosing to show support for the LGBTQ community with pride tape?
“Restrictions on games and practices do not preclude players’ ability to provide support in other settings,” Daly said. “In fact, we encourage them to do so. [We] We just don’t want to put other players in a difficult situation just because they choose not to participate. ”
