No Pride in the NHL

NHL players banned from supporting the 2s+LGBTQ the community

You have got to be kidding me

It’s 2023 FFS.

Back in June, when they hoped fewer people would be paying attention, the National Hockey League (NHL) put a stop to “cause-based” jersey nights, including pride-themed jerseys.

The league called them a distraction.

Human rights are apparently a distraction from grown men getting paid millions to play a kid’s game while predominately white cis-men also make significant amounts of money from yelling at these men while they play.

Wait, stop! I promise I’m not hating on hockey.

Hockey is my absolute favourite sport. I’ve played since I was 4 years old, starting out in squirts on a team with only one other girl. When I was 7, our city began developing a girls’ hockey league.

We didn’t have enough players for age-based teams, so we played with three lines: youngest, middle, and oldest. Coaches had to line-match so the same-aged players were out at the same time.

I fell in love with the sport. I played competitive hockey as soon as there was an opportunity to do so. I played ‘AA’ in my teens, the highest level available to female players at that time. I played College hockey. I was captain of my women’s team in my 20s.

I love the sport of hockey, but I am beginning to strongly dislike the NHL.

No pride tape allowed

Just last week, the NHL sent a memo out to teams clarifying what will and will not be permitted in terms of “theme nights” this coming season. These guidelines included an outright ban on rainbow pride tape on players’ sticks.

This is in stark contrast to the previous messaging, “hockey is for everyone” the NHL has shared in years past.

Do they truly believe no players in the NHL are gay?

The fact that there is only one openly gay player in the entire league says a hell of a lot more about the lack of inclusion in hockey in general, and particularly in the NHL, than it does about the actual number of gay players.

That player, by the way, is Luke Prokop. He was drafted into the NHL in 2020. Three years ago. 2020 was the very first time an NHL player came out publicly in the league’s 106-year history.

I can’t imagine the amount of harassment he has probably received, but general-population homophobia aside, Prokop has already spoken out about the NHL’s disappointing efforts (or lack thereof) to promote inclusion in hockey.

While the NHL does not explicitly or overtly discriminate against 2sLGBTQ players, they don’t have to. There are enough micro-aggressions and half-assed attempts at “inclusion and diversity” to send the clear message that not everyone is welcome.

Do NHL executives actually believe NHL players don’t have friends and family members who are gay?

Sure, homophobia is rampant in hockey. It’s always been an “old boys’ club”. It wasn’t until 2019 that women were allowed to participate in the NHL Skills Competition, the same year Brianna Decker logged the fasted time in the fastest skater competition.

She was only giving a demonstration. She is reported to have beat the fastest NHL player by three seconds, but the league was not officially timing her.

Hockey is for everyone

I can hear it now. “We should let them focus on hockey and not worry about political issues”. Cue audible eye-roll.

Listen, there’s no such thing as separating basic human rights and equality from… well, anything.

While the NHL does not explicitly or overtly discriminate against 2sLGBTQ players, they don’t have to. There are enough micro-aggressions and half-assed attempts at “inclusion and diversity” to send the clear message that not everyone is welcome.

I’ve played hockey for 36 years. For more than 30 of those years, I played on girls’ and women’s teams. There are a lot of queer players. We all deserve to feel welcome, and to be represented in the biggest league in hockey.

What about all the youth players coming up? How early will we discourage 2s+LGBTQ players from continuing on in the sport? What example is the NHL setting for the youth going into locker rooms today?

NHL stars are heroes to many of these kids.

They look up to them, admire them, and emulate them. They strive to be like them. When kids watch on TV or attend games and see players wearing rainbow jerseys, using pride tape, and speaking out against homophobia, they are taking it all in.

The closeted queer kid sees players like Luke Prokop and thinks maybe they do have a place in the sport. The athlete with a homophobic parent, coach, or teammate sees players publicly supporting inclusion in hockey and learns not everyone thinks or behaves that way.

The NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) and players in general need to step up here and stand up for what is right.

The kids are watching.

© Jillian Enright, Neurodiversity MB

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