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NHL Bans Rainbow Tape [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-10-11  

On Tuesday, Outsports.com reported that players will no longer be allowed to wrap rainbow colored tape around the blade of their stick. The reasoning is that

“Players shall not be put in the position of having to demonstrate (or where they may be appearing to demonstrate) personal support for any Special Initiatives. A factor that may be considered in this regard includes, for example, whether a Player (or Players) is required to be in close proximity to any groups or individuals visibly or otherwise clearly associated with such Special Initiative(s).”

As such, if one player decides to support a friend or family member with rainbow tape, a fellow teammate or opponent may have his feelings hurt by this display. And as we know, hockey players are very sensitive people.

For non-hockey players, the color of the tape is important. Clear tape is to hold your shin pads in place. Black tape is used on the stick blade such that it camouflages the puck (at least that is the idea). White tape is for the butt end (top) of the stick to prevent the palms of the gloves from turning black over time. If a player has white tape on the blade, this typically means that that player ran out of black tape.

Rainbow tape shows that the player supports the LGBTQ+ community, players like Connor McDavid (Edmonton) and Mikael Backlund (Calgary). This apparently sends the wrong message, says the league that has now placed large advertisements on the players’ helmets. A league that allows fighting is somehow worried that someone’s feelings may be hurt.

It is amazing how dumb this decision is. Gary Bettman and the Board of Governors had a choice. Let it happen with little fanfare, allowing some show of inclusiveness, or ban it and call attention to a league that has demonstrated several times now, when confronted by a even a small hint of support like Pride Night or rainbow practice jerseys, they turtle, to use an old hockey expression, to avoid getting punched.

But it’s more than just tape, it’s the message. In my last six years as a High School hockey coach, we have had straight, male, female, gay, bisexual, lesbian, and trans players and we just play the game. I know this team is an outlier, but I am proud of my team’s diversity. Some have faced slurs and taunts on the ice and have to play through it. As a team, we have no real way of changing how parents and opposing players act towards us, but the NHL does…or did. They could have sent a positive message at no cost. Instead of supporting inclusiveness, they are giving the voice to those that don’t, who pass this along to their kids.

At least it is not all hockey. A statement from the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) says the decision by the NHL "sets back years of progress" but the players "remain steadfast in our support of the LGBTQ+ community."

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/11/2198870/-NHL-Bans-Rainbow-Tape?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

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