CONTROVERSY | The New York Islanders make a surprising change prior to the game against the Canucks regarding Pride Night

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S. Harper
February 8, 2023 (8:14 PM)

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Thursday Night's matchup between the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks is surely one you can't miss. Bo Horvat facing his former teammates just after last week's trade sent him to the New York Islanders. This will also be Anthony Beauvillier's first appearance at the UBS Arena in another uniform than the Islanders'.

However, as interesting as that is that's what won't get talked about from this game after the New York Islanders would make a surprising and controversial announcement.

Thursday's game is scheduled to be the New York Islanders' turn to host the NHL's 'Pride Night' game but it looks like they won't be participating after Sharing:

"The team won't be wearing any rainbow warm-up jerseys citing it as an Organizational Policy."

The Islanders are now the second team to not participate, as last month the New York Rangers decided not to take part in the pride day warm-up jerseys instead of wearing their regular blue ones.

This will no doubt be met with some backlash from the LGBTQ community who's already criticized both the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers after Ivan Provorov's refusing to participate due to what he claimed were religious beliefs.

Some may ask why does someone's sexual preference have to do with hockey? But it's meant to bring inclusion to our sport and make everyone feel welcome. But it seems the NHL is going to have to find another way to make this happen where players won't be judged for not wanting to take part in events either.

The Flyers stood by Provorov, the Rangers chose not to follow the league's agenda and now the Islanders chose the same path. Good for them for sticking to their players' beliefs and not forcing anything on them, hockey is for everyone after all.