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Edmonton Oilers superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were some of the players to use Pride Tape during warmup ahead of Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.
The game marked the Devils’ annual Pride Night.
Social media posts from both teams showed Oilers players Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Darnell Nurse, and Devils forward Curtis Lazar, were some of the other players using the tape.
In June the NHL banned all specialty jerseys — including Pride jerseys — for warmup after a handful of players opted out of using them last season.
Speaking at the NHL Awards shortly after the ban was announced, McDavid called the decision “disappointing.”
“I certainly can’t speak for every organization,” said McDavid at the time. “I know in Edmonton, we were one of the first teams to use the Pride tape.
“We strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes the Pride nights.”
When players returned for training camps a memo from the NHL indicated the ban would extend to Pride Tape too, not just specialty jerseys. However, after Coyotes defenceman Travis Dermott used Pride Tape in the warmup of a game against the Kings, the NHL rescinded the tape ban.