New York Rangers DITCH wearing LGBTQ-themed warmup jerseys and rainbow tape on Pride Night… and FAIL to explain why they backtracked on promise
The New York Rangers have failed to explain why they did not honor their promise of wearing LGBTQ-themed jerseys before taking the ice in ‘Pride Night Friday’ at Madison Square Garden.
After donning rainbow-themed warmup jerseys for the past few years, the Rangers chose not to skate out in similar attire this year – nor did they use rainbow colored tape as in previous years.
This is in spite of advertising that the team would do so, and comes in the aftermath of the Philadelphia Flyers choosing to ice a skater who was the only one not to wear a rainbow jersey on their pride night.
Rainbow colored lights at Madison Square Garden to celebrate Pride Night last year
Igor Shesterkin #31 of the Rangers sports a special jersey in honor of Pride Night two years ago
In a statement to DailyMail.com, the Rangers said: ‘Our organization respects the LGBTQ+ community and we are proud to bring attention to important local community organizations as part of another great Pride Night.
‘In keeping with our organization’s core values, we support everyone’s individual right to respectfully express their beliefs.’
The Rangers did have some notable acknowledgments of the LGBTQ+ community during the game.
Special flags are used by members of Rangers blue crew during Pride Night in January 2022
The team had Andre Thomas, a co-chair of NYC Pride, take part in the ceremonial puck drop. They also announced they were making a donation to the Ali Forney Center, which helps homeless LGBTQ+ youth.
However, they failed to take part in the most visible aspect of the evening through the jerseys and the tape. In years past, rainbow jerseys have been auctioned off for charity.
An unidentified player told the New York Post that he, ‘just saw the regular Lady Liberty jersey hanging in his locker and he didn’t know why the Rangers didn’t wear the originally planned warmups.’
Zac Jones #6 of the Rangers skates with a stick decorated for ‘Pride Night’ on May 3, 2021
Backlash was swift and came just weeks after the Philadelphia Flyers hosted a Pride Night at the Wells Fargo Center. Every player took to the ice wearing a rainbow-colored warm-up jersey except for defenseman Ivan Provorov.
‘I respect everybody’s choices,’ Provorov said after logging 23 minutes in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over visiting Anaheim. ‘My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say.’
Coach John Tortorella defended Provorov, saying the Russian defenseman ‘was true to himself and to his religion.’
‘It’s one thing I respect about Provy, he’s always true to himself,’ Tortorella said.
The New York Rangers ditched wearing LGBTQ-themed warmup jerseys on Pride Night Friday. The team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1
.