NHL Reverses Ban on Colored Stick Tape

Facts

• The National Hockey League (NHL) announced Tuesday that it has reversed its previous ban on using stick tape to express support for social causes, including LGBTQ+ issues. Players “now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season.”¹
• The National Hockey League (NHL) announced Tuesday that it has reversed its previous ban on using stick tape to express support for social causes, including LGBTQ+ issues. Players “now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season.”²
• The previous policy, issued in June, forbade teams from wearing “specialty” jerseys during warmups, practices, or games during nights that supported causes, including Pride and military appreciation.³
• The league then clarified at the beginning of October that on-ice player uniforms and gear worn in warmups, official team practices, and games couldn't be altered to reflect 'specialty' theme nights.⁴
• Previously, Pride nights became controversial after six players refused to wear the team's rainbow-colored jerseys last season.⁵
• The tape ban drew criticism from players and executives, including longtime executive Brian Burke, Philadelphia Flyers player Scott Laughton, and Arizona player Travis Dermott, who defied the ban during a game over the weekend.⁶
• The league’s decision came after meetings with the NHL Players' Association and its player inclusion coalition.³

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²OPB, ³ESPN, ⁴Associated Press (a), ⁵CBS and ⁶Associated Press (b).

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by LGBTQ Nation. The NHL should be applauded not just for allowing freedom of expression but for breaking the age-old stigma around LGBTQ+ issues in society. Players shouldn't have to risk their careers for simply using rainbow tape — thankfully, the league has come to its senses and put itself on the right side of history.
• Right narrative, as provided by Stand Up Republican. While the left attempts to portray this issue as the NHL imposing widespread censorship on its players, the truth is that the league has been caving to a minuscule group of activists. The league should keep politics and its extreme left causes out of sports. If its fanbase is anything like the NFL’s, the NHL should be ready for a backlash in response to its virtue signaling.