Pride Night stick tape.Photo:Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty
Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty
The National Hockey League is taking a new stance on how its players show support for social causes.
The league announced on Tuesday that players will be able to use symbolic tape on their hockey sticks throughout the season.
The announcement came just a few days after the league sent a memo to its players advising them that theirgear and uniforms could not be alteredduring events like Pride nights and military appreciation.
One of the first to speak out about the initial announcement was Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott, who used pride tape on the shaft of his stick duringthe Coyotes' game against the Anaheim Duckson Saturday.
“None of the players really saw me put it on my stick. It was kind of just an: ‘All right, I’m doing this, and we’re going to deal with the consequences and move forward, and hopefully I’ll have a positive impact on some people that needed that positive impact,'" he said of his decision to defy the league’s now-rescinded rule in an interview withThe Athletic.
While the athlete, 26, noted that he received support from his team, he said that he apologized to the equipment staff for using the tape without telling them.
“They’re the ones that are supposed to make sure that all of our gear is up to spec and legal and all that stuff. I did feel a little bit like I betrayed those guys," Dermott said. “But I think at the same time they’re so good at understanding and they know that I wasn’t being malicious toward them.”
After Tuesday’s announcement, themakers of Pride Tapepraised the NHL’s ban reversal.
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“We are so very grateful to everyone who believes hockey should be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for all,” the company said in astatement. “We are extremely happy that NHL players will now have the option to voluntarily represent important social causes with their stick tape throughout season. @nhl @NHLPA.”
source: people.com
