The makers of Pride Tape are «extremely disappointed» by the NHL's decision to ban players from using the rainbow-colored stick tape in support of the LGBTQ+ community this season. «The league has used language in recent days that would prohibit the tape from any proximity to NHL hockey.
We hope the league — and teams — will again show commitment to this important symbol of combating homophobia,» Pride Tape said in a statement.
The NHL announced in June that teams were no longer allowed to wear «specialty» jerseys during warmups, practices or games. The unilateral ban followed a season in which several players refused to take part in warmups when their teams wore Pride night jerseys.
Defenseman Ivan Provorov, then of the Philadelphia Flyers, was the first player to opt out in January, citing his Russian Orthodox religion.