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The NHL has spent years proclaiming “Hockey Is For Everyone” but seemed to undermine that claim when it opted to ban players from using rainbow “pride tape” on their sticks prior to the start of the current season. However, it seems like the backlash to the decision forced the league to swiftly change its tune.
There was a handful of guys in the NHL who pushed back against the LGBTQ-themed jerseys teams around the league wore during warmups to commemorate Pride last season, and while they seemed to represent a very small minority of hockey players, the pushback was apparently enough to force Gary Bettman and Co. to reconsider their approach going forward.
Earlier this month, the NHL informed players they would not be permitted to use pride tape during the 2023-24 campaign, which many fans interpreted as a laughably unforced error that was designed to address a problem that didn’t really seem to exist in the first place (simply saying players could decline to participate seemed like the most obvious solution).
A number of notable names quickly came forward to take issue with the pivot, as Connor McDavid, Brad Marchand, and Morgan Rielly all expressed their displeasure with the league’s decision.
Some players went even further. Flyers center Scott Laughton basically threatened the NHL to fine him while promising to use pride tape when the team dedicates a night to the LGBTQ community in January, and Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott beat him to the punch by wrapping some around the top of his stick during a showdown with the Sharks on Saturday.
Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman says he’s heard the league is already gearing up to reverse course just weeks after it unveiled the new policy, as it has reportedly reached an agreement with the NHLPA to give players the green light to use pride tape if they so choose.
There is word the NHL, NHLPA and NHL Player Inclusion Coalition have agreed that players will have the option to represent social causes with stick tape throughout the season. This includes games and practices
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 24, 2023
Bettman and the NHL don’t really deserve any credit here when you consider they’re responsible for needlessly creating this problem for themselves, but at least it seems like reason will prevail.