The Vancouver Canucks’ much-lauded series of warm-up jerseys has come to an end.
“What I can say is if this is the case, what is very disappointing is that over 95 per cent of the NHL players who proudly wore (Pride jerseys) to show support and their values to the community will not get an opportunity to do so again. Of course pride should be 365 and we will continue to work toward that with everyone involved,” Palumbo said.
The Canucks led the way with acknowledging Pride, first wearing sweaters with rainbow numbers on them for warm-up in 2017, eventually designing full warm-up jerseys in recent seasons for their players to wear.
The Canucks expanded their warm-up jersey program in recent seasons to recognize a number of cultural events, including First Nations Night, Diwali and Lunar New Year. Other teams have created similar campaigns.
Every team in the NHL hosted a Pride night last season, though not every team wore a Pride jersey.
An NHL spokesperson confirmed the ban applies to all specialty warm-up jerseys, including those previously worn as part of leaguewide campaigns, such as Hockey Fights Cancer, military appreciation and St. Patrick’s Day.
Bettman acknowledged that the news of ending the warm-up jersey campaign wouldn’t be well received in many quarters, especially since June is Pride month.
“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 team, which players,” Bettman went on, nodding to the handful of players and a couple teams who chose at the last minute not to wear Pride warm-up jerseys this past season, including the Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko.
The players who skipped out on wearing the jerseys, citing either family or religious reasons, were heavily criticized.
“This way we’re keeping the focus on the game and on these specialty nights,” Bettman insisted.
Other Canucks players were outspoken in their support of wearing Pride jerseys.
“I think every year we’ve worn it since I’ve been here. I think it’s a great night and I’m glad we’re doing it and I don’t think there’s ever been any discussion for doing it or not doing it,” Quinn Hughes said before the Canucks’ March 30 Pride game.
“Every time we’ve done Pride night, I’ve worn the jersey and celebrated the night.”
“It’s important for everyone to be included. No matter whatever your gender, your sexuality, your race, it doesn’t matter. Everyone’s welcome in the game,” Ethan Bear told Sportsnet in late March.
“It’s important,” he said, emphatically.
Bettman acknowledged that the jerseys associated with these theme nights have become very popular for many teams.
“All of those nights will continue, the only difference will be we’re not going to change jerseys for warm-up,” he said.
Teams can still sell specialty jerseys, Bettman said.
Requests for comment have been made to both the Canucks and the NHLPA.
