Another team sparks ‘Pride jersey’ controversy

It’s happening again and it is another team from the Eastern Conference that is added to the scandal. It all started last month when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov did not want to wear the team’s Pride Night-themed warmup jersey, stating his religion as the main factor. Just days later, the New York Rangers scaled back on scheduled their Pride event as players did not warmup with the themed jerseys.

Now, it’s been confirmed that the New York Islanders won’t be wearing rainbow warmups for Pride Night tomorrow, citing organizational policy, according to the Post.

While the Islanders will reportedly be making donations toward the LGBT Network and the New York Gay Hockey Association, as well as a series of other initiatives including Pride branding on their advertising boards and on the team’s social and digital platforms, their decision to step away from the Pride night jerseys makes me cringe.

If the NHL is serious about the Hockey is for Everyone initiative, something should be done about this and I mean better than commissioner Gary Bettman’s stance following the incidents in Philadelphia and the Big Apple.

“You know what our goals and our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it’s at the league level or the club level,” Bettman said at last week’s All-Star Game. “But we also have to respect some individual choice. And some people are more comfortable embracing themselves and causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences.”

You Can Play Project might react to this added controversy. The Project aims to ensure equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation. The NHL and its players first partnered with You Can Play in April 2013. The group’s first campaign kicked off in 2012 following a 2010 car accident that took the life of 21-year-old Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Brian Burke, now president of hockey operations with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Recommended articles:

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• Rangers spark another 'Pride jersey' controversy in the NHL.
• You Can Play has best answer to get back at Flyers’ Ivan Provorov
• NHL reacts to Ivan Provorov refusing to wear Pride Night-themed jersey in Philly