At least one Canucks participant will not be sporting a themed warm-up jersey when Vancouver holds its annual Pride night time on Friday.
Coach Rick Tocchet mentioned that Russian winger Andrei Kuzmenko has opted to not don the particular uniform forward of the house sport towards the Calgary Flames, after discussions along with his household.
“I’m not going to get into it as a result of we do not know the offers that occur over there. So I respect his resolution,” Tocchet mentioned.
Kuzmenko, 27, has change into a fan favorite in his first NHL season, along with his extensive smile and outgoing persona.
He has 37 targets and 31 assists in 73 video games, and leads the Canucks in targets.
Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes, seen right here sporting a Pride jersey previous to a March 2022 sport in Vancouver, says he and teammates are wanting ahead to Pride night time at Rogers Arena on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports by way of Reuters)
Some of his teammates have publicly dedicated to sporting the jerseys, designed by native artist Christin Hryc. The predominant crest incorporates a rainbow and flowers throughout the Canucks’ orca emblem, and rainbow patches on the shoulders.
“I feel everybody on this room is wanting ahead to it,” defenceman Quinn Hughes mentioned Wednesday. “And I do know in our group, everybody’s welcome.
“Every time we have executed Pride night time, I’ve worn the jersey and celebrated the night time.”
Star centre Elias Pettersson mentioned Friday that he, too, is in assist of the annual occasion.
“I feel it is vital to indicate that everybody is welcome right here,” he mentioned. “And I’ll put on the jersey tonight.”
Vancouver has plenty of different initiatives deliberate for Friday, together with a pre-game drag present outdoors Rogers Arena and in-game performances. A $20,000 donation can be being made to QMUNITY, a Vancouver non-profit that helps LGBTQ individuals and their allies.
Kuzmenko joins a handful of NHL gamers who’ve declined to put on Pride jerseys this season, together with Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, and Buffalo Sabres blue liner Ilya Lyubushkin.
Lyubushkin cited an anti-gay Kremlin regulation and fears of retribution at residence in Russia for electing to not take part within the Sabres’ pregame warmup on the staff’s Pride night time.
Whether a participant wears the themed jersey comes right down to particular person rights, new NHLPA government director Marty Walsh mentioned in Toronto on Thursday.
“The LGBTQ neighborhood should not really feel that the NHL hockey gamers are turning their again on that neighborhood. The majority of the gamers have worn the jersey,” mentioned Walsh, who has been a powerful advocate for LGBTQ rights throughout his political profession.
He added that the league will doubtless have extra conversations concerning the concern transferring ahead.
“But I feel it is actually vital that as a league and as locker rooms, we’re inclusive and that we assist all individuals’s proper to assist the sport,” Walsh mentioned.
