Blackhawks will not wear pride jerseys due to safety concerns for Russian players: report

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The Chicago Blackhawks were slated to wear rainbow-colored warm-up jerseys on Sunday for the team's Pride Night, but that will no longer be the case.

The Blackhawks will not wear the LGBTQ-themed jerseys, attire they have worn previously, citing safety concerns of their Russian players for the decision, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

New Russian law has banned "gay propaganda," and the team reportedly had conversations with security officials regarding the laws.

The law made it illegal for Russians to promote or "praise" the LGBTQ lifestyle.

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 12: Rainbow colors are shown on the Chicago Blackhawks warm-up jerseys for Pride Night prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at United Center on April 12, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Blackhawks have three players with Russian heritage or have family in Russia: defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, forward Philipp Kurashev and Kazakh goaltender Anton Khudobin.

The NHL and several of its teams and players have come under fire in recent months for backing off on wearing pride uniforms despite previously advertising such.

Philadelphia Flyers' Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion in January as to why he did not join his team in wearing such jerseys.

The New York Rangers promoted its Pride Night in January, saying players would wrap pride-themed tape on sticks as well as similar jerseys, but that plan was also nixed with no explanation. The same thing occurred with the Minnesota Wild earlier this month.

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 05:  A stick is taped rainbow colors