The Canadiens are not immune to the controversy surrounding NHL Pride Nights. On the eve of this event highlighting the organization’s solidarity with the LGBTQ community, head coach Martin St-Louis let the mystery hang over the intentions of his players. He will wait until Thursday morning, a few hours before the celebration, to answer “tough questions” about it.
The thorn in the side of several teams since the start of this season has been the wearing of a multicolored jersey during the pre-game warm-up period. These jerseys, specially designed for the event, can then be sold at auction in order to donate funds to charities.
The Habs have long warned that a rainbow jersey will be worn by its players. We will probably only know Thursday morning, after the training session preceding the clash between the CH and the Washington Capitals, if members of the group will come out of the ranks.
On a personal level, St-Louis was clear. “Everyone is welcome” in his locker room, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or even sexual or gender identity. “The Montreal Canadiens take this day very seriously,” he said.
Internal “discussions” took place. Is it possible that a player or players refuse to wear a multicolored jersey? “I don’t know,” the coach retorted. I will answer tomorrow [Thursday] when we have all the information. I will be prepared to answer difficult questions. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. »
This last statement opens the way to different interpretations. If a storm is brewing, we obviously prefer to face it on the day of the event.
After Ivan Provorov refused to wear the jersey planned by the Philadelphia Flyers last January, the incidents multiplied. Ilya Lyubushkin (Buffalo), Andrei Kuzmenko (Vancouver), Ilya Samsonov (Toronto), James Reimer (San Jose) and brothers Eric and Marc Staal (Florida) all impersonated Provorov. Some invoked religious reasons. Others, more specifically players of Russian origin, said they feared for their safety.
A law enacted in Russia provides for the prohibition of all “propaganda” on “non-traditional sexual relations”. Players from this country say they feel threatened. However, it is not clear what real consequences those who engage in this “propaganda” face, or how it is defined.
The New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, on the other hand, decided outright that no one would wear multi-colored jerseys, even though it was part of their celebrations. .
In the Canadiens locker room on Wednesday, Jonathan Drouin, Samuel Montembeault, Cayden Primeau and Chris Wideman indicated that they would wear the rainbow jersey. David Savard also did it last week, but an injury will prevent him from playing on Thursday.
Drouin notably referred to the “different circumstances” that “some Russians” have to deal with. “You can’t judge someone who isn’t from the same culture, but it’s disappointing to see that. We are in 2023, ”he recalled.
Nevertheless, you have to support your teammates, he believes. “I’m not talking about our team, but all the teams,” he was careful to qualify.
The Habs’ only Russian skater, Denis Gurianov, was not made available for interviews with members of the media, despite a specific request from journalists. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be wearing the Pride Night jersey.
The players who spoke on this subject did not leave any ambiguity as to their solidarity with their team and the message it wishes to convey.
“For the LGBTQ community or another, it shows that hockey is for everyone, recalled Samuel Montembeault. Everyone is welcome at the Bell Centre. We’re all here to enjoy a hockey game. »
“It’s just a sweater, but it means a lot to some people,” Cayden Primeau said. People have suffered in the past before coming out of the closet. There are things we can do to show them our [support], to show them that they belong. »
For Chris Wideman, “it’s about recognition and respect.” Everyone should be comfortable and open to the idea of coming to see a hockey game, said Jonathan Drouin. In the eyes of Quebecers, sport should be a pretext to “talk” about issues such as diversity. His teammates are “pretty united,” he believes.
While not disagreeing with this assertion, Wideman nevertheless pointed out that “some players in the NHL who wore this jersey are bad guys” and conversely some players who refused to do so “are bad guys.” good people “.
“It’s not a reflection of a player’s personality,” he insists. That’s the beauty of living in a free world. For my part, I will wear the jersey and I will encourage the cause. »
