Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott uses Pride Tape in home opener, becomes first player to defy NHL ban

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Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott became the first player to openly defy the NHL’s ban on Pride Tape after he used it during the team’s home opener Saturday night. 

Dermott, who signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Coyotes during the offseason, was seen using the prohibited stick tape during this weekend’s 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. 

Travis Dermott, #33 of the Arizona Coyotes, skates on the ice with pride tape at Mullett Arena on Oct. 21, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Zac BonDurant/Getty Images)

League officials told The Athletic on Sunday that they will review the incident for a possible violation of their policy "in due course." The team told ESPN separately that they had not heard of any potential disciplinary measures from the league, yet. 

NHL BANS USE OF PRIDE TAPE ON ICE IN UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR THEME NIGHTS

The use of Pride Tape and specialty jerseys became a fierce topic of debate last season when several players voiced their opposition to partaking in Pride Night celebrations. 

Commissioner Gary Bettman said in an interview with Sportsnet following a Board of Governors meeting in New York in June that themed jerseys would no longer be worn on the ice as they had become "a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media during a press conference prior to Game One of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 3, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Then, just before the start of the regular season, the league doubled down issuing a memo to teams