Florida Panthers forward Eric Staal and defenceman Marc Staal did not participate in the team’s warmup ahead of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after refusing to wear Pride jerseys.
Both Staal brothers released a statement saying that wearing a pride jersey goes against their Christian beliefs.
“After many thoughts, prayers and discussions we have chosen not to wear a pride jersey tonight.,” Both Staal brothers write.
“We carry no judgement on how people choose to live their lives, and believe that all people should be welcome in all aspects of the game of hockey.
“Having said that, we feel that by us wearing a pride jersey it goes against our Christian beliefs.
“We hope you can respect this statement, we will not be speaking any further on this matter and would like to continue to focus on the game and helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup.”
Every other member of the Panthers took part in warmup with the Pride jersey.
“A night like tonight, for me, is really all about including everybody. In my opinion, it’s the greatest game in the world,” Matthew Tkachuk said after the game. “Everybody’s welcome in my locker room and our locker room as an organization. I think our organization’s done an unbelievable job.”
“I think we were one of the first teams to start Pride Night,” Tkachuk added. “We’re continuing the tradition every year and showing each and every day that hockey is for every single person.”
Head coach Paul Maurice said prior to the game that the team would continue with the tradition of wearing Pride jerseys after other NHL teams decided not to go through with it.
“As an organization, we have decided — and rightfully so — to move forward with it and support it and celebrate it,” Maurice said of wearing special warmup jerseys for Pride Night earlier in the day.
“Teams around the league and players around the league, they’ve got the right to their opinion, and we’ve got the right to ours.”
The Chicago Blackhawks did not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before their game Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks because of security concerns involving the law Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in December to expand restrictions on supporting LGBTQ rights.
Chicago coach Luke Richardson said he and his players were disappointed in the decision.
“It’s an unfortunate situation, but that’s just what we have to deal with,” Richardson said after his team’s gameday skate in Washington. “I don’t think we can control the world issues, so that takes it out of our hands. We’re just making decisions as best we can as an organization and for everybody.”
The league declined to comment through a spokesperson, as did agent Dan Milstein, who represents Russian players on the Blackhawks and other teams.
Panthers starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky did participate in warmups wearing the Pride-themed jersey.
The decision comes at a time when Russian players have walked a careful line since the invasion of Ukraine, with some cautiously speaking out against the war even with family members still living in Russia. Last year, Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov ran into several roadblocks as he traveled back to the U.S., raising concerns about his safety.
Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers declined to take part in pregame warmups during the team’s Pride night in January, citing his Russian Orthodox religion. Russians Nikolai Knyzhov and Alexander Barabanov wore the Pride-themed jerseys for the San Jose Sharks Sharks on Saturday, when Canadian goaltender James Reimer refused to take part because he said it conflicted with his religious beliefs.
The New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild opted not to wear Pride jerseys or use Pride stick tape as part of their events despite previously advertising they would.
–With files from the Associated Press.
