Chicago Blackhawks' rookie
Connor Bedard openly defied Gary Bettman's orders regarding a controversial matter: the Pride Nights.
On Tuesday night, before a game against the Calgary Flames, the Blackhawks held a pride night. Even if players couldn't wear a special jersey, they decided to wear pride-themed tape on their sticks.
Bedard defies Bettman and wears pride-themed tape on his stick during warmups.
The NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced last summer that the league would ban all festivities and celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community, one of the most controversial decision of recent years in the NHL.
However, a few players decided this season to not listen to Bettman and still celebrate the community, including Bedard,The Blackhawks did it on Tuesday. Here are pictures of Bedard wearing the tape:
Other Blackhawks players open up on the importance of Pride Nights
Bedard wasn't alone in this. The organization and some of his teammates also participated in the event.
The veteran
Seth Jones mentioned:
"We're obviously all in on that as a team and as an organization. We respect any way of life anyone has, and Pride Night's obviously still ma big part of this league, and a big part of our organization from the top down.
All the players are are still happy that the organization is at least having a Pride Night. We're not wearing the jerseys, but I think it means more than that. I think if everyone believes in it, it's not just about the jersey at the end of the day."
Nick Foligno, another respected member of the team, talked about the importance of this event:
"I think it's wonderful. I think it's great that our league still does that. The biggest thing is everyone has different beliefs, but at the end of the day, you should be able to voice what yours is in a respectful way. It's an opportunity for us to shed light on a group of people that has felt they need more of that. So it's a great opportunity for us to do that if you feel the need to do so.
It's a nice way to take on leadership yourself, whatever you feel your beliefs are. I think that's a great way to grow as a person. So if that's an important part for you, then stand up and do it and and I think everyone's there to support each other."
The Hawks ended up beating the Calgary Flames 3-1. It's great to see them win and play well on such an important night for the community.
More to come.
As seen on House of Hockey -
Bedard stands up to Gary Bettman with a heartwarming gestureADS
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