NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Hints That League May Get Rid Of Pride Nights: 'More Of A Distraction Now'

After a number of players around the NHL have chosen not to participate in their team’s Pride Night festivities of virtue signaling this season, league commissioner Gary Bettman could cancel them moving forward.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov was the first player this season to decide not to participate in his team’s Pride Night due to his religious beliefs. He elected not to wear a rainbow-themed jersey during warmups, which caused the media to lose its collective mind.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski labeled anyone who respected Provorov’s decision a “homophobe” while some no-name anchor in Canada attacked all religious people.

Other NHL players including brothers Marc and Eric Staal of the Florida Panthers have since refused to participate in Pride Night while the Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and New York Rangers decided not to wear previously planned Pride-themed jerseys.

With players and organizations deciding it’s not right to force people into participating in Pride Night activities, Bettman says Pride Nights as a whole need to be reevaluated this offseason.

“This is the first time we’ve experienced that, and I think it’s something that we’re going to have to evaluate in the offseason,” Bettman told CTV News.... (Read more)

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