Fleury

Photo by Andy Hall

Many professional sports have themed days that help teams promote identification of less recognized groups of people. I have written before about the Los Angeles Dodgers and their LGBTQ+ night as an example. The National Hockey League (NHL) had a special night honoring Native Americans. Veteran goal tender Marc-Andre Fleury, of the Minnesota Wild, had a mask made to celebrate the night. Many goalies will do this for special events such as the world championships and the Olympics. But the league told him he could not wear the mask.

Fleury made the mask to honor his father and Native Americans. His wife in particular, who is a member of an indigenous tribe in Canada. He stated that he would wear the mask anyways and just pay the fine. The NHL countered by saying that they would force his team to also pay a hefty fine.

Before the season started, the NHL updated its guidelines for these theme nights. A year earlier seven players refused to wear special warm up jerseys for a Pride night celebration. So, the NHL capitulated. There was no fine threat against those teams. Seven players balk and the whole league cowers. One man and the league send its entire might down on him and his team. The new guidelines state that teams were allowed to hold theme nights but were prohibited from wearing anything that promoted these causes during the games. This includes any cancer awareness events the teams may have.

Travis Dermott, a defenseman that plays for the Arizona Coyotes, wore Pride tape on his stick earlier in the season. I say, good for him. But no one is aware of any special fine that his team was levied. Why does Fleury get the special treatment? The backlash from the public and players got the league to eventually rescind this order. Fleury ended up defying the league and wore his new mask in warm ups. The fines never materialized.

It is clear that the NHL is run by ignorant cowards who do not care to promote the great product they have to offer people. They are doing this by saying that seven players control league policy and the thousands of fans that they are alienating and thousands more new fans that will not now approach the sport mean nothing to them. And we as fans continue support these beliefs that divide our society each day. The league comes with its power to force one man down but lets seven dictate how the league will handle its business. Just curious why the seven could not be made to see the light? A violation of their beliefs? Apparently, Fleury’s beliefs did not hold much water in the NHL’s opinion. Why not impose their will on the seven? Why are they so special? Was it because it was a Pride issue? More special than the thousands of fans that they alienate? Correct me if I am wrong but don’t the fans pay for much of the revenue each team generates? This comes from ticket and merchandise, parking and food. Even the TV contracts are based on the number of fans watching. So why don’t they matter? When will people realize that these special nights help. It shows that there is no “evil” here and that people are just simply people no matter what heritage or sexual identity that they represent. It starts the conversations that will hopefully lead to complete acceptance someday. The US and Canada would be so much better served by promoting inclusion then allowing exclusion.