Toronto Maple Leafs | Ilya Samsonov refuses to wear Pride sticker

The Toronto Maple Leafs held their annual Pride night on Tuesday, but did not don a uniform dedicated to the cause.

Players instead wore pride stickers on their helmets and several used rainbow tape during the pre-game warm-up before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Russian goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov did not wear the sticker on the back of his mask, however.

The Leafs have been hosting Pride parties in support of the LGBTQ community since 2017, but have never sported special uniforms.

The team had planned a number of Pride-related events throughout the day on Tuesday, including a drag queen performance to Canadian music icon Shania Twain’s song Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, broadcast on the giant screen at Scotiabank Arena before the players hit the ice.

A small group of NHL players have refused to wear Pride uniforms this season: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko, San Sharks goaltender Jose James Reimer, brothers Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, and Buffalo Sabers defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.

Some teams have modified or canceled their plans for similar events.

Samsonov did not tell reporters about his decision before the game, but a Russian law restricts “propaganda” about LGBTQ people, including in advertising, the media, and the arts.

Other NHL players have invoked their religious beliefs to refuse to wear the Pride jersey.

Toronto players and coach Sheldon Keefe wore rainbow t-shirts while meeting the media on Tuesday morning.

Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has participated in the Toronto Pride Parade with general manager Kyle Dubas and team president Brendan Shanahan in the past.

“The belief within the organization has always been to include people and make our team a place where everyone is welcome and safe,” Rielly said. Whether you’re wearing a jersey or not, I believe actions speak louder than words.

“And especially more than the attire. »