Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton said he likely won’t comply with the NHL’s ban on Pride Tape for the 2023-24 season.
Pride Tape has been used by various players throughout the past few seasons but the NHL says it will not be permitted this year. Previously, the NHL outlawed themed warmup jerseys as the league continues to take steps backward in its support for LGBTQ+ communities.
Philadelphia is planning on hosting its annual Pride Night on Jan. 10 and Laughton said he still intends to use the banned tape.
“You’ll probably see me with the Pride Tape on that night anyways. If they want to say something, they can,” Laughton said, per Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports.
Laughton doesn’t appear to be alone, as “a number of NHL players” have expressed interest in buying the product in spite of the ban, Pride Tape’s co-founder, Dr. Kristopher Wells, told Sportsnet’s Kristina Rutherford.
Laughton has been a consistent ally of LGBTQ+ communities throughout his career, founding the Flyers’ Pride Initiative with former teammate James van Riemsdyk in 2022. He is also an initial member of the Alphabet Sports Collective, a group founded by advocate Brock McGillis to eradicate homophobia and transphobia from hockey.
“I think people should be welcome to play the game of hockey,” Laughton said to the NHLPA’s Chris Lomon in June. “It doesn’t matter who you love, the color of your skin, or what your background is, I just really think it’s the best game in the world and everyone should have an opportunity to play it or feel welcome watching it in the crowd.”
The NHL hasn’t announced any sanctions that will be implemented against those who decide to use Pride Tape in 2023-24.
Connor McDavid, Morgan Rielly, Rasmus Andersson and Zach Hyman were among the NHL players who expressed disappointment Tuesday with the league’s decision to ban the tape.
Brian Burke, one of the sport’s most vocal allies for LGBTQ+ communities, also released a statement on Wednesday expressing his dissatisfaction with the NHL’s decision, calling it a “surprising and serious setback.”
“This new league policy strips clubs and players of one of the most important and visible ways of supporting causes they care about,” Burke wrote. “Let’s be clear: this is not inclusion or progress. This decision does not grow the game and does not make our fans feel welcome.”
