Florida Panthers heart Eric Staal and defenseman Marc Staal did not participate within the group’s warmup previous to Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs after electing to not put on the group’s Pleasure jerseys.
The Staal brothers launched a press release on the group’s Pleasure Evening, saying that they selected to not put on the Pleasure jerseys as a result of it goes “in opposition to” their Christian beliefs.
“After many ideas, prayers and discussions we’ve got chosen to not put on a delight jersey tonight,” each Staal brothers mentioned. “We supply no judgement on how folks select to reside their lives, and consider that every one folks must be welcome in all points of the sport of hockey. Having mentioned that, we really feel that by us sporting a delight jersey it goes in opposition to our Christian beliefs.
“We hope you possibly can respect this assertion, we is not going to be talking any additional on this matter and want to proceed to deal with the sport and serving to the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup.”
Eric Staal added after the sport — which Florida misplaced 6-2 — that he had by no means worn a Pleasure jersey in his NHL profession. That was rapidly confirmed incorrect, as there’s picture proof of him, as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, sporting a Pleasure jersey throughout the 2020-21 season.
Other than Eric Staal and Marc Staal, each different member of the Panthers roster participated in warmups whereas sporting the Pleasure jerseys. Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk said that “everyone’s welcome” within the Panthers locker room.
“An evening like tonight, for me, is absolutely all about together with everyone. In my view, it is the best recreation on this planet,” Matthew Tkachuk mentioned following the sport. “All people’s welcome in my locker room and our locker room as a company. I feel our group’s carried out an unbelievable job.”
“I feel we had been one of many first groups to begin Pleasure Evening,” Tkachuk added. “We’re persevering with the custom yearly and exhibiting every day that hockey is for each single individual.”
Despite the fact that Russian gamers have been on the heart of a serious controversy concerning the LBGTQIA+ neighborhood — due to Russian president Vladimir Putin instituting a regulation that restricts the rights of LGBTQIA+ residents — Russia native and Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky took half in pregame warmups whereas sporting the Pleasure-themed jersey.
The Staal brothers aren’t the primary NHL gamers to refuse to put on their group’s Pleasure-themed jerseys. It has been one thing that has been taking place all season.
In January, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov determined to not take part in pregame warmups as he did not want to put on the group’s Pleasure jersey. Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox spiritual beliefs as the rationale for refusing to put on the jersey.
Since then, San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer additionally refused to participate within the group’s pregame skate because of the truth that he did not need put on the group’s Pleasure jersey. The Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers did not put on Pleasure jerseys in any respect throughout warmups for his or her respective Pleasure Nights regardless of having beforehand deliberate to take action. You’ll be able to learn extra concerning the NHL’s ongoing subject with Pleasure Nights across the league right here.