He wild minnesota hosted its second annual Pride Night on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, but the players had notably ditched the Pride-themed jerseys normally worn during warm-ups in what was reportedly an «organizational decision.»
After previously announcing that players would be wearing rainbow colored t shirts In warm-ups that would be signed and auctioned off in support of the LGBTQIA+ community, players on the ice were only seen wearing rainbow-colored tape on their clubs and themed pucks before the game.
Kirill Kaprizov, #97 of the Minnesota Wild, skates with the puck as MacKenzie Weegar, #52 of the Calgary Flames, defends during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 7, 2023 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
According to The Athletic, it was an «organizational decision,» but a team statement before the puck dropped offered little clarity on the call.
RANGERS DANCE FOR WEARING LGBTQ-THEMED WARM-UP SWEATERS AT PRIDE NIGHT
«The Minnesota Wild organization is proud to continue our support of the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, Asexual) community by hosting our second annual Pride Night tonight, which we are celebrating in so many ways. It’s important to host nights like this to show all players, fans and the LGBTQIA+ community that hockey is for everyone.»
According to the report, mention of the auction was also apparently removed from the team’s website.
Wild players wore Pride-themed jerseys during Pride Night in 2022.
Minnesota Wild number 12 Matt Boldy warms up in a Pride Night jersey before the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Xcel Energy Center on March 29, 2022 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
Fans got a glimpse of what the jersey would look like before the start of the first period when it was shown to Jack Jablonski, a Minnesota hockey fixture who suffered a serious spinal cord injury while playing in high school and is also openly gay. . on the Jumbotron he’s wearing.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The Wild Players decision not to wear the themed jerseys follows several teams and players who recently opted out of the The NHL’s «Hockey is for Everyone» initiative.
Earlier this year, defender Ivan Provorov decided to skip the philadelphia flyers pregame warmups, when players wore Pride-them jerseys, citing their religious beliefs.
The NHL released a statement at the time apparently endorsing Provorov’s decision, adding that it «will continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues.»
Philadelphia Flyers number 9 Ivan Provorov in a camouflage jersey in honor of Military Appreciation Night warms up against the Minnesota Wild on November 11, 2017 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. (Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
«Clubs decide who to celebrate, when and how, with the advice and support of the League. Players are free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In January, the new york rangers he did the same with the entire team opting not to wear the jerseys in warm-ups.
«Our organization respects the LGBTQ+ community and we are proud to call attention to important local community organizations as part of another great Pride Night. In keeping with our organization’s core values, we support everyone’s individual right to respectfully express their beliefs.» , the Rangers told Fox News Digital in a statement.