(This is a variation on a comment I’d made on a YouTube video by “The Hockey Guy” where he referenced the Ivan Provorov controversy. Mr Speaker, I’d like unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks… 🙂 )
“Hockey is for Everyone is the umbrella initiative under which the League encourages clubs to celebrate the diversity that exists in their respective markets, and to work to achieve more welcoming and inclusive environments for all fans. Clubs decide whom to celebrate, when and how — with league counsel and support. Players are free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues.”
Bill Daly, National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner
I would love to see one of the reporters covering the NHL ask the powers that be if they would be as forgiving had Provorov said he couldn’t be bothered to wear/support “Hockey Fights Cancer” or the military appreciation camo jerseys on those nights. Or if the team were to do a “Black Lives Matter” or “End Racism” night, for that matter…
Somehow, I don’t think the league’s reaction in those cases would be as tepid as this statement.
In today’s political environment, the LGBTQ+ community is under assault from all directions and it is currently considered politically acceptable to target them for a not significant percentage of the US population.
I think the argument can be made that the NHL clearly has use of the LGBTQ+ community as long as they are spending money on the NHL. I think it’s also the same for any other cause celebré the league decides to promote…their job is to put butts in seats and money in owner’s pockets and maybe once in a while officiate the game fairly.
I have no doubt the hammer would have fallen hard upon him if he blew off kids with cancer or protested against the military or exhibited racist behaviour.
Indeed, there is a little bit of irony to Provorov’s new teammate Tony DeAngelo taking part in the warmups given his past history of questionable behaviour and statements. I wasn’t a huge fan of the move that brought him to Carolina last season and even wrote an open letter to owner Tom Dundon on that subject but I’ll give Tony full marks that at least as long as he was in Rod’s locker room, we never saw a hint of the very objectionable behaviour that followed him from team to team culminating with him getting tossed from the Rangers after fighting his own goaltender.
And since he’s been in Philadelphia, he seems to have kept his nose clean so maybe he did learn a bit of maturity during his year here in Raleigh. I rather hope so because he is a rather formidable player when his head is screwed on straight. Only time will tell if that remains the case with the ever volatile John Tortorella as his coach!
We just saw in that tepid statement that for the NHL, the LGBTQ+ community is a lower class population despite their rhetoric. Actions truly do speak louder…
Whilst I’d like to believe that charitable causes being supported by teams and players do good in their community, I can’t separate that from the promotional self-interest and knowing there are players out there that go through the motions but are really not on board with the underlying cause.
The NC Courage had a player who regularly blew off the pride jerseys and events citing religious convictions (Jaelene Hinkle). And some people would kick up a fuss but then she’d be out on the field playing afterward and all was forgotten if she played well.
In the end, this will blow over when the next player puts their skate over the political line and becomes the new public enemy #1.
As for Provorov, at least we know where he stands and freedom of religious beliefs is still a thing we supposedly support in the US (provided it’s an acceptable religion and beliefs…we’re still working on actual religious freedom!).
I feel sorry that he’s chosen a path of divisiveness rather than understanding but that is his choice as are whatever consequences come of it.