Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott defies NHL's Pride Tape ban
The NHL’s ban on theme-night gear, including Pride Tape, has already been defied on the ice.
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott played with the rainbow tape on the top of his stick on Saturday during a 2-1 home win over the Anaheim Ducks.
In June, the NHL decided to restrict players from wearing gear associated with any theme night, including Hockey Fights Cancer and military appreciation games, after a small number of players opted not to wear Pride warmup jerseys last season on nights celebrating the LBGTQ+ community.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman claimed the focus on jersey choices became a “distraction.”
The NHL said in a statement to The Athletic that the league will review Dermott’s use of Pride Tape “in due course.”
NHL teams will still hold themed nights throughout the season; the Coyotes’ Pride Night is on Oct. 30.
“It means everything. It’s so incredibly powerful,” Jeff McLean, one of Pride Tape’s co-founders, told The Athletic about Dermott using the tape on Saturday. “With tape not being allowed on the ice for warmups, we know from history how important these visual messages are. It just takes one person to do something powerful.”
Brian Burke, a longtime NHL executive who also worked in the league office and is currently the head of the PWHL players union, praised Dermott on X Saturday night.
“Travis continues to be a courageous leader in LGBTQ+ allyship,” Burke wrote. “I hope other players follow his example.”
The issue over the warmup jerseys first grabbed headlines in January, when Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov skipped warmups on Pride Night, citing his Russian Orthodox beliefs.
“I respect everybody. I respect everybody’s choices,” Provorov said at the time. “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”
Former Rangers Marc and Eric Staal skipped warmups during the Panthers’ Pride Night in March.
After the NHL’s June decision, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid called the ban “disappointing.”
Dermott, 26, is in his first season with the Coyotes after splitting his first six seasons with the Maple Leafs and Canucks.
