Former NHL executive Brian Burke ripped the league’s choice to prohibit players from applying rainbow-colored tape to their sticks in support of the LGBTQ+ community this season.
The league outlawed the use of rainbow tape for Pride Night celebrations in a letter that was sent to each team last week. During the ’22 campaign, Pride Night became a controversial topic of discussion.
Burke, who spent a half dozen years as the league’s director of hockey operations and executive vice president, wrote in a statement on Wednesday that NHL’s latest mandate is a “setback” for those who do not wish to explain their choices.
“This is not inclusion or progress,” Burke said, per ESPN. “Fans look to teams and the league to show they are welcome, and this directive closes a door that’s been open for the last decade. Make no mistake, this is a surprising and serious setback.”
The memo also states that players’ uniforms as well as gear for games, warmups and official team practices cannot be changed for Pride Nights or theme-related events that include military appreciation celebrations and Hockey Fights Cancer. However, players are permitted to volunteer in those celebrations away from the ice.
Burke, who currently serves as the president of the Professional Women’s Hockey League players’ association, is a longstanding supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has spent more than three decades advocating for “substantial time, energy and resources” to the community.
Although the league has the measure in place, Flyers center Scott Laughton said he still plans to display pride tape for those celebrations.
“If they want to say something, they can,” Laughton said, per Charlie O’Connor or PHLY Sports.
Bruins left winger Brad Marchand carried a similar sentiment, telling reporters that he should not be limited in his freedom to be his authentic self.
“To be pushed to do something you don’t want to do or to be banned from [using] something you believe in, there’s gotta be a line where we can all have our beliefs and support each other. It’s unfortunate we can't find common ground,” Marchand said, per Joe Haggerty.
In June, the NHL prohibited teams from donning theme jerseys during warmups after several players chose not participate in Pride Night events in 2022.
