As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for their annual Pride Night on Tuesday, fans were surprised to learn that the team won’t be wearing themed jerseys for the occasion. While many NHL teams have adopted rainbow-colored jerseys to support the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month, the Maple Leafs have opted to take a different approach this year. In this article, we’ll explore why the team made this decision and what it means for their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided not to wear themed warmup jerseys for their annual Pride night celebration, which takes place on Tuesday. The NHL organization has held Pride nights in support of the LGBTQ+ community since 2017, but has never before sported special warmup jerseys.
However, the Leafs say that rainbow stick tape will be available to players during the pre-game skate, and the team has a number of other events planned throughout the night to mark the occasion. Toronto players and head coach Sheldon Keefe dressed in rainbow-themed t-shirts during a Tuesday morning media availability session before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Despite a small number of NHL players declining to wear Pride warmup jerseys this season, including Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, and Buffalo Sabres blue-liner Ilya Lyubushkin, Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly held the belief that actions speak louder than words. Rielly has marched in Toronto’s Pride parade alongside general manager Kyle Dubas and team president Brendan Shanahan in the past, and he expressed his thoughts on the matter by stating: “I believe actions speak louder than words, and especially speak louder than attire.”
The Leafs will still display Pride decals on their helmets for the occasion, but Russian goaltender Ilya Samsonov is not expected to wear one on the back of his mask. The decision by the Leafs not to wear themed warmup jerseys has caused some surprise and discussion among the NHL community, but it remains to be seen if other teams will follow suit in future Pride night events.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs will not be wearing special Pride-themed jerseys for their game on Tuesday, their commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community remains unwavering. As a symbol of solidarity, the team will be sporting Pride patches on their jerseys and sticks. It’s a small yet powerful way to show support for a community that has long been marginalized in the sports world. As we continue to push for greater inclusion, let’s not forget the progress made by the Maple Leafs and other teams who have taken a stand for equality. Together, we can continue to build a more inclusive and accepting world for all.
