NHL Declares Pride Jerseys a ‘Distraction’ and Implements Ban

• The NHL has announced a ban on “cause-based” jerseys for next season, citing distractions on the ice.
• Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the jerseys were taking away from the focus of the game.
• Some players refused to wear Pride jerseys due to religious beliefs.

The NHL will ban players from wearing Pride jerseys on the ice starting next season, citing distractions from the game, according to an NHL executive.

In an interview with Sportsnet, Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that he proposed the idea during a recent NHL governors’ meeting. He believes that the jerseys have been taking away the focus from the game.

“It’s become a distraction and taking away from the fact that all of our clubs in some form or another host nights in honor of various groups or causes,” Bettman said.

This announcement comes during Pride Month, which is celebrated every June.

“In the final analysis, all of the efforts and emphasis on the importance of these various causes have been undermined by the distraction in terms of which teams, which players, this way we’re keeping the focus on the game,” Bettman added.

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According to CBC, the NHL’s decision to ban “cause-based” jerseys for next season came after some players objected to wearing Pride-themed attire during pregame warm-ups earlier this year.

Players, including Eric and Marc Staal, James Reimer, and Ivan Provorov, cited religious beliefs as the reason for their refusal to wear the jerseys, as reported by The Associated Press.

“We carry no judgment on how people choose to live their lives, and believe that all people should be welcome in all aspects of the game of hockey,” the Staal brothers told the news agency. “Having said that, we feel that by us wearing a Pride jersey, it goes against our Christian beliefs.”

James Reimer, the goaltender for the San Jose Sharks, boycotted pregame warm-ups in March, stating that he was “choosing not to endorse something that is counter” to his personal convictions, as reported by The AP.