The NHL has a well-known and horrific track record of supporting minority groups. Just this year alone, the league has already created some completely avoidable controversies while trying to police players and teams who wish to support causes like LGBTQ pride.
For The Win’s Mary Clarke has already succinctly summed it all up once this year:
Coming into the 2023-24 season, the NHL had banned Pride Tape and other various sorts of “cause messaging” displayed on player uniforms and gear. Alongside Pride events, this would have banned players from showcasing support for Hockey Fights Cancer or military appreciation nights, among others. The impetus for this change? Ivan Provorov’s decision to abstain from wearing a Philadelphia Flyers Pride Night jersey in warmups earlier in the year, causing the NHL to ban theme nights altogether.
Largely due to the efforts of Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott, players can once again use Pride Tape on their sticks. Yet it didn’t take long for the NHL to unreasonably bring down the hammer on a beloved player’s “cause messaging” for reasons passing understanding.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was all set to debut a new mask for Native American Heritage Night on Friday when the Wild host the Colorado Avalanche.
According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Fleury wanted a special mask to honor his wife — who is a registered member of a tribe in Canada — and worked with a member of the Prairie Island Indian Community to help design a new lid he could auction for charity after the game. And, not for nothing, the helmet is absolutely gorgeous.
Unfortunately, the NHL won’t allow Fleury to wear the mask. The league reportedly threatened to fine the goaltender if he did take the ice with it on — even for warmups.
Per Russo:
Fleury said he was willing to limit his use of the mask to warmups — and accept a fine, according to his agent Allan Walsh — but the team will not let him because they were twice instructed by the NHL that it was against the rules. Fleury called the league’s decision “stupid.”
As part of Native American Heritage Night and to honor his wife, who is native, Marc-Andre Fleury had a custom-designed mask created by Cole Redhorse Taylor. Mask quotes his dad on back, has names of his kids.
He’s bummed the NHL has informed him he can’t even wear in warmups pic.twitter.com/wTR1BtkLOI
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) November 24, 2023
Auction proceeds will benefit the Minnesota Wild Foundation and the American Indian Family Center. At 3 pm, look at @mnwild social media for auction link
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) November 24, 2023
Marc-Andre Fleury indicated he was planning to wear the mask anyway and pay the fine. The NHL then threatened the Wild organization with an additional significant fine. https://t.co/iVmCqyQR2H
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) November 24, 2023
It’s truly hard to find anything the NHL could point to as a legitimate reason why Fleury shouldn’t be able to wear this paint scheme. If there is one, the league should speak up immediately and clear the air. Especially given the fact Fleury was able to wear a special edition mask honoring Native Americans when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021.
Otherwise, this threat of punitive action against the Wild and its players serves as another stark reminder that the league’s “Hockey Is For Everyone” messaging remains subject to the NHL’s terms and conditions.
Update:
UPDATE: Rule be damned, Marc-Andre Fleury is wearing his Native American Heritage mask in warmups. I’m told it’s very unlikely he or the #mnwild will be fined, but he’s risking it
His mask is up to $5,600 in the auction—vastly more than any other item https://t.co/2N0SlYujh5 https://t.co/Ajnk0ysfnq
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) November 25, 2023
Marc-Andre Fleury is wearing his Native American Heritage mask in warmups. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WPSITbHz5U
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 25, 2023
