Former NHL executive Brian Burke says a new league rule that prohibits players from supporting special causes on the ice — including on Pride Nights — is "a surprising and serious setback."
The NHL announced the change in June but a new memo circulated to teams, as first reported by ESPN, outlined specifics about the new policy.
The memo stated players are not to use rainbow-coloured pride tape during warmups, nor are teams permitted to implement special-themed warmup jerseys worn by players to commemorate special events or causes — among them Pride Night, Hockey Fights Cancer, Black History Night, and shows of military appreciation.
In a lengthy statement shared on social media, Burke, who has worked as a general manager or executive with six NHL clubs, said he was "deeply disappointed" by the new rule, which bans all on-ice alterations of uniforms for special causes and themed nights.
"I've worked in a variety of NHL markets over the last 35 years, and have always made it a priority for my teams to engage with and support local organizations and causes," said Burke, 68, who is now head of the Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association.
"This new league policy strips clubs and players of one of the most important and visible ways of supporting cause they care about... This decision does not grow the game, and does not make our fans feel welcome."
Burke has long been a supporter of 2SLGPTQ+ rights and co-founded the organization "You Can Play" in honour of his late son, Brendan, who was gay. Brendan Burke was killed in a car crash in 2010. You Can Play, which was founded in 2012, has a goal of eliminating homophobia in sports.
In a separate statement Tuesday, "You Can Play" said it hopes the NHL will reverse the policy change.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly defended the new policy while appearing on Halford and Brough on Sportsnet 650 on Tuesday.
“I think the primary point is that nothing’s really going to change in the sense that our clubs will continue to celebrate these special initiatives and these causes and do a lot of cause messaging around those events,” he said. “The only difference this year is we’re asking the clubs not to employ use of the players on the ice during the game. As you know, probably, we had some issues last year with players feeling uncomfortable in supporting certain causes and we didn’t want our players to be put in those situations going forward.”
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