The Dallas Stars released their 2026-27 promotional schedule Friday, and one night from the past five years is missing.
For the first time in at least five seasons, the Stars will not host a Pride Night.
In its place, the team added a new theme night on March 23 against the Carolina Hurricanes called "Hockey Unites Us: Women in Sports Night."
Stars spokesperson Joe Calvillo explained the thinking behind it in a statement.
"The new Hockey Unites Night allows our organization to use our platform to celebrate and support a different underrepresented community each season," Calvillo said.
The Stars declined to say why they didn't simply add the women's night alongside a Pride Night, rather than replace it.
Dallas will still run theme nights for Black history, Hockey Fights Cancer, Noche Mexicana, the military, first responders and teachers this season.
“For the first time in at least five years, the Dallas Stars will not host a Pride Night. The team has declined to explain why it couldn't simply add its new Women in Sports Night alongside it.”
Dallas Stars drop Pride Night for first time in at least five years
Last season, only the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Utah Mammoth skipped a Pride Night among all 32 NHL teams.
The Kings are bringing theirs back this year. Carolina still runs a broader Hockey Is For Everyone night in March.
“Dallas now stands nearly alone among NHL teams heading into the new season. That makes this schedule change much harder for the organization to ignore.”
The timing lands less than a year after "Heated Rivalry," a romance series about two professional men's hockey players, expanded the league's fan base almost overnight.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this year he watched the entire show in one sitting and credited it with helping grow the sport.
The show already has a second season coming in April.
Bettman has also pointed to team Pride Nights and the league's work with You Can Play as proof the NHL has embraced LGBTQ+ fans.
The Stars finished last season 50-20-12, third overall in the league, and reached the playoffs behind a team that has plenty of eyes on it nationally right now.
That visibility means this decision won't stay quiet. How Dallas explains it further, if at all, will shape how this story follows the team into training camp.
Source : Dallas Stars will not host Pride Night for first time in at least five years
Should the Stars have kept Pride Night alongside the new Women in Sports Night?
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