Coyotes' Travis Dermott 'had to' defy NHL with Pride tape - ESPN

Travis Dermott had a lot on his mind as he carefully wrapped the shaft of his hockey stick with rainbow-colored tape.

The NHL had dispatched a memo to teams before the season, reiterating its ban on altering on-ice gear for warmups and practices to reflect theme nights.

The Arizona Coyotes defenseman was about to become the first player to defy that edict on supporting social causes — including Pride tape for the LGBTQIA+ community. And he was going to do it in a game.

«A bunch of thoughts are going through your head,» Dermott said Friday. «But not one of them was, 'Should I do this or shouldn't I do this?' It was more, 'How fast is it going to blow up? How much is it going to blow up? Is anyone even going to notice?'

»It had to be done. I was going to deal with whatever came my way."

What came his way was an avalanche of support after Dermott sported the tape on Saturday in Arizona's home opener against the Los Angeles Kings.

It also didn't take long for the NHL to backpedal. The league announced less than 72 hours later its ban on using stick tape to support social causes, including rainbow-colored Pride tape, had been rescinded.

The 26-year-old from Newmarket, Ontario, said working for causes away from the rink is great, but on TV under the bright lights is where there's the most exposure.

«That's when those little things would be picked up in the most meaningful way, the most powerful way,» he said. «My parents really made it an important lesson that you want to be the best influence you can for the next generation.»

Pride nights became a hot-button issue in hockey after six players chose not to participate in pregame warmups last season when their team wore rainbow-themed jerseys. Teams this season are not allowed